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

Just returning to the playoffs felt improbable for the team that gave up 63 points in this stadium last year. —Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025

Even improbable life finds its way, though, and pygmy marmosets have developed an elaborate survival system based on talking to each other constantly. —Jessica Camille Aguirre, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Jan. 2025

Week 18 has produced plenty of improbable upsets before. —Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025

So went the plain-spoken refrain of Jimmy Carter, the man from Plains, whose improbable century-long journey came to an end on Sunday. —Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 2 Jan. 2025

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