Definition:Disjoint Events

Definition
Let $A$ and $B$ be events in a probability space.

Then $A$ and $B$ are disjoint :
 * $A \cap B = \O$

It follows by definition of probability measure that $A$ and $B$ are disjoint :
 * $\map \Pr {A \cap B} = 0$

That is, two events are disjoint the probability of them both occurring in the same experiment is zero.

That is, $A$ and $B$ can't happen together.

Also known as
$A$ and $B$ are also referred to in this context as mutually exclusive.

Also see

 * Definition:Pairwise Disjoint Events