of or pertaining to a process involving a randomly determined sequence of observations each of which is considered as a sample of one element from a probability distribution.
Origin: 1655–65; < Gk stochastikós, equiv. to stochas- (var. s. of stocházesthai to aim at) + -tikos-tic
Of, relating to, or characterized by conjecture; conjectural.
Statistics
Involving or containing a random variable or variables: stochastic calculus.
Involving chance or probability: a stochastic stimulation.
[Greek stokhastikos, from stokhastēs, diviner, from stokhazesthai, to guess at, from stokhos, aim, goal; see stegh- in Indo-European roots.] sto·chas'ti·cal·ly adv.
1662, "pertaining to conjecture," from Gk. stokhastikos "able to guess, conjecturing," from stokhazesthai "guess," from stokhos "a guess, aim, target, mark," lit. "pointed stick set up for archers to shoot at" (see sting). The sense of "randomly determined" is first recorded 1934, from Ger. Stochastik.