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

Grand Theft Hamlet is the chronicle of the improbable production of Hamlet the two men begin to plan in that moment, half internet stunt and half earnest attempt at art made more real by the fact that Grylls joins and starts documenting the action using the in-game camera effect. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 17 Jan. 2025

Eraserhead improbably landed Lynch his first feature proper, The Elephant Man, when Mel Brooks (its equally improbable producer) fell in love with the director’s esoteric work. —Stephen Galloway, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2025

The Substance continues its once improbable awards run with five nominations, including a first ever BAFTA nomination for Hollywood veteran Demi Moore, and there were five nominations for horror Nosferatu, which had received no nominations at the recent Golden Globes. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2025

Flacco’s performance during an 11-6 finish and improbable run to the playoffs earned him the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year and merited another contract to remain in Cleveland as Watson’s backup. —Jason Lloyd, The Athletic, 15 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