losowa

Losowa is the feminine singular form of the Polish adjective losowy, meaning random or chance-based. It is used to describe phenomena, processes or quantities determined by chance rather than by a fixed rule. The term derives from los, meaning fate or chance, and the suffix -owy; the feminine form appears before feminine nouns, for example liczna losowa (random number) or zmienna losowa (random variable).

In mathematics and statistics, losowa is found in phrases such as liczba losowa (random number), próba losowa (random sample) and zmienna losowa (random variable). In computing and data analysis, one encounters terms like generator liczb losowych (random-number generator) and zjawisko losowe (random phenomenon). In everyday Polish, losowy is commonly used in technical contexts, while przypadkowy is more frequent in casual speech; both convey the idea of chance, but losowy emphasizes a process governed by probability.

Notable collocations include zdarzenie losowe (random event) and próba losowa (random trial) as well as methods described as losowe wybory lub losowa selekcja. The form losowa typically accompanies feminine nouns, whereas neuter or masculine forms appear as losowe or losowy respectively. Overall, losowa functions as a standard inflected form to express randomness in Polish grammar and terminology.