improbable

adjective

im·​prob·​a·​ble (ˌ)im-ˈprä-bə-bəl 

-ˈpräb-bəl

: unlikely to be true or to occur

also : unlikely but real or true

improbability

(ˌ)im-ˌprä-bə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

improbably

(ˌ)im-ˈprä-bə-blē 

-ˈpräb-blē

adverb

Synonyms

• doubtful
• dubious
• far-fetched
• flimsy
• questionable
• unapt
• unlikely

Examples of improbable in a Sentence

The team made an improbable comeback.

it seems improbable that the two writers never met since they traveled in the same social circles

Recent Examples on the Web

In only four scenarios did Altman return as CEO, showcasing just how improbable the actual outcome was. —Charlie Fink, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

The loss is also somehow the second time this season Chicago has lost on an improbable play as time expired. —Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2024

Stanford snapped a six-game losing streak and won its first home game over an FBS team in the Taylor era in improbable fashion. —Harold Gutmann, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024

It's been an improbable, rocky journey from flyweight to middleweight to heavyweight. —Matthew Self, The Arizona Republic, 14 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin improbabilis, from in- + probabilis probable

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

improbable

adjective

im·​prob·​a·​ble (ˈ)im-ˈpräb(-ə)-bəl 

: not probable : unlikely to be true or to occur

improbability

(ˌ)im-ˌpräb-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

improbably

(ˈ)im-ˈpräb(-ə)-blē 

adverb