Prior probability
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION THAT WOULD EXPRESS ONE'S UNCERTAINTY BEFORE SOME EVIDENCE IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT
Prior probability distribution; Prior distribution; Improper prior; Diffuse prior; Prior Probability; Uninformative prior; Improper distribution; A priori (statistics); Prior probabilities; A priori distribution; A priori probability; Non-informative prior; Bayes prior; Bayesian prior; Logarithmic prior; Priori probability; Uniform prior; Objective prior; Flat prior; Prior beliefs; Hierarchical prior distribution; Top-hat prior; Tophat prior; Prior (statistics)
In Bayesian statistical inference, a prior probability distribution, often simply called the prior, of an uncertain quantity is the probability distribution that would express one's beliefs about this quantity before some evidence is taken into account. For example, the prior could be the probability distribution representing the relative proportions of voters who will vote for a particular politician in a future election.