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the probability that something is so, will occur, or is more likely to occur than something else:
The odds are that it will rain today.
the ratio of probability that something is so, will occur, or is more likely to occur than something else.
this ratio used as the basis of a bet; the ratio by which the bet of one party to a wager exceeds that of the other, granted by one of two betting opponents to equalize the chances favoring one of them:
The odds are two-to-one that it won’t rain today.
an equalizing allowance, as that given the weaker person or team in a contest; handicap.
an advantage or degree of superiority on the side of two contending parties; a difference favoring one of two contestants.
an amount or degree by which one thing is better or worse than another.
at odds, at variance; in disagreement:
They were usually at odds over political issues.
by all odds, in every respect; by far; undoubtedly:
She is by all odds the brightest child in the family.
Also, by long odds, by odds.
differing in nature from what is ordinary, usual, or expected:
an odd choice.
singular or peculiar in a strange or eccentric way:
an odd person; odd manners.
fantastic; bizarre:
Her taste in clothing was rather odd.
leaving a remainder of 1 when divided by 2, as a number (opposed to even):
Numbers like 3, 15, and 181 are odd numbers.
more or less, especially a little more (used in combination with a round number):
I owe three hundred-odd dollars.
being a small amount in addition to what is counted or specified:
I have five gross and a few odd dozens.
being part of a pair, set, or series of which the rest is lacking:
an odd glove.
remaining after all others are paired, grouped, or divided into equal numbers or parts:
Everybody gets two hamburgers and I get the odd one.
left over after all others are used, consumed, etc.
(of a pair) not matching:
Do you know you’re wearing an odd pair of socks?
not forming part of any particular group, set, or class:
to pick up odd bits of information.
not regular, usual, or full-time; occasional; casual:
odd jobs.
out-of-the-way; secluded:
a tour to the odd parts of the Far East.
Mathematics. (of a function) having a sign that changes when the sign of each independent variable is changed at the same time.
something that is odd.
Golf.

a stroke more than the opponent has played.
British. a stroke taken from a player’s total score for a hole in order to give him or her odds.

Contemporary Examples

Rand Paul Gives War a Chance Olivia Nuzzi August 17, 2014
‘LA Shrinks’: A Television Writer Discovers His Shrink Is on a Bravo Reality Show Mike Chessler April 7, 2013
‘The Impossible’ Star Tom Holland On His Award-Worthy Film Debut Kevin Fallon December 19, 2012
Scott Brown’s Dark Secret Samuel P. Jacobs February 16, 2011
Could the Mullahs Fall This Time? Rouzbeh Parsi, Trita Parsi December 26, 2009

Historical Examples

Star Hunter Andre Alice Norton
In the Midst of Alarms Robert Barr
Butterflies and Moths William S. Furneaux
Thoroughbreds W. A. Fraser
Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 54, No. 334, August 1843 Various

plural noun
foll by on or against. the probability, expressed as a ratio, that a certain event will take place: the odds against the outsider are a hundred to one
the amount, expressed as a ratio, by which the wager of one better is greater than that of another: he was offering odds of five to one
the likelihood that a certain state of affairs will be found to be so: the odds are that he is drunk
the chances or likelihood of success in a certain undertaking: their odds were very poor after it rained
an equalizing allowance, esp one given to a weaker side in a contest
the advantage that one contender is judged to have over another: the odds are on my team
(Brit) a significant difference (esp in the phrase it makes no odds)
at odds

on bad terms
appearing not to correspond or match: the silvery hair was at odds with her youthful shape

give odds, lay odds, to offer a bet with favourable odds
take odds, to accept such a bet
over the odds

more than is expected, necessary, etc: he got two pounds over the odds for this job
unfair or excessive

(Brit, informal) what’s the odds?, what difference does it make?
adjective
unusual or peculiar in appearance, character, etc
occasional, incidental, or random: odd jobs
leftover or additional: odd bits of wool

not divisible by two
represented or indicated by a number that is not divisible by two: graphs are on odd pages Compare even1 (sense 7)

being part of a matched pair or set when the other or others are missing: an odd sock, odd volumes
(in combination) used to designate an indefinite quantity more than the quantity specified in round numbers: fifty-odd pounds
out-of-the-way or secluded: odd corners
(maths) (of a function) changing sign but not absolute value when the sign of the independent variable is changed, as in y=x³ See even1 (sense 13)
odd man out, a person or thing excluded from others forming a group, unit, etc
noun
(golf)

one stroke more than the score of one’s opponent
an advantage or handicap of one stroke added to or taken away from a player’s score

a thing or person that is odd in sequence or number
n.
adj.
odd
(ŏd)
Divisible by 2 with a remainder of 1, such as 17 or -103.

odds and ends
odds are, the