Möglichkeit

Möglichkeit is a German noun meaning possibility, option, or opportunity. It denotes the potential for something to occur or for a choice to be made. In everyday language, it is used to discuss what could happen or which options are available, as in “Es besteht die Möglichkeit, dass er später kommt” or “Gibt es eine andere Möglichkeit?” The plural form is Möglichkeiten.

The word is formed from the adjective möglich (possible) plus the nominalizing suffix -keit, which creates abstract nouns indicating a state or condition. This formation is common in German for turning adjectives into nouns that express an abstract concept.

In everyday usage, Möglichkeit often refers to practical or hypothetical potential rather than formal necessity. In contrast, related terms carry different nuances: Gelegen-heit suggests a favorable moment or convenient oppor-tunity, Chance emphasizes probability or luck, and Option (often used in technical or formal contexts) aligns with a contemplated choice. The term Möglichkeit can be contrasted with Notwendigkeit (necessity) in discussions of modality.

In philosophy and logic, Möglichkeit denotes modal possibility, one of the core modalities alongside Notwendigkeit (necessity). In this context it is often discussed in terms of possible worlds (Möglichkeitswelt) and modal reasoning.

Examples of common collocations include “Möglichkeit prüfen” (to examine a possibility), “neue Möglichkeiten entdecken” (discover new possibilities), and “eine konkrete Möglichkeit” (a concrete possibility). The word remains versatile across everyday language, science, and philosophy.