What is meant by an event in probability?

In probability, an event is defined as a subset of the sample space that consists of one or more outcomes. This means that rather than being tied to a single outcome, an event can encompass several possible results from a probability experiment. For example, if you were rolling a die, the event of rolling an even number would include the outcomes of rolling a 2, 4, or 6—thus forming a subset of the complete sample space (which consists of the outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6).

This definition highlights that events serve as a way to group various outcomes that share a common characteristic, allowing for the analysis of their probabilities in a more meaningful way. Understanding this concept is crucial in probability theory, as it enables one to calculate the likelihood of different scenarios occurring based on the outcomes of a given experiment.