wahrscheinlichsten

Wahrscheinlichsten is the superlative form of the German adjective wahrscheinlich, meaning most likely or probable. It is used to express the highest degree of likelihood among a group of options and is typically placed before a noun.

In everyday usage, wahrscheinlichsten appears in phrases like die wahrscheinlichsten Gründe (the most probable reasons) or die wahrscheinlichsten Ergebnisse (the most likely results). The form is most commonly seen with plural nouns in the nominative or accusative cases, but it can occur with other genders and cases as part of the attributive adjective.

Grammatical notes: The superlative is formed with the ending -sten (wahrscheinlichsten). When used with a definite article, the adjective is declined: die wahrscheinlichsten Gründe. Without an article, the strong declension yields: wahrscheinlichste Gründe (plural). In singular forms, you would encounter der wahrscheinlichste Grund (masculine nominative), die wahrscheinlichste Erklärung (feminine nominative), or das wahrscheinlichste Ergebnis (neuter nominative). The adverbial superlative is am wahrscheinlichsten, used to modify a verb or a whole clause, as in Es ist am wahrscheinlichsten, dass.. .

Etymology and related terms: Wahrscheinlichsten derives from wahrscheinlich, which itself comes from Wahrscheinlichkeit (probability) and German roots meaning “likely” or “likely to occur.” Related terms include wahrscheinlich, Wahrscheinlichkeit, and wahrscheinlicher (comparative).

See also: Wahrscheinlich, Wahrscheinlichkeit, Vergleichsformen im Deutschen.