Meaning & Definition of word "Improbable"
Improbable
/ɪmˈprɒb.ə.bəl/
adjective:
- 1. Not likely to happen or be true; unlikely.
- Example: It seems improbable that they would win the championship after such a poor start to the season.
- 2. Having a low probability; unlikely to occur.
- Example: The forecast predicts an improbable chance of snow in the summer.
- 3. Not convincing or believable; dubious.
- Example: His story was so improbable that nobody believed him.
- 4. Difficult to imagine or envision.
- Example: The idea of life on other planets seems improbable to many.
Etymology
●From Latin 'improbabilis', where 'in-' means not and 'probabilis' relates to being proved.
Common Phrases and Expressions
improbable cause:
A reason that seems unlikely or not credible.
improbable event:
An occurrence that has a low likelihood of happening.
Related Words
probable:
Likely to happen or be the case.
implausible:
Not seeming reasonable or probable; failing to convince.
Slang Meanings of improbable
Meaning: A long shot
● Example Sentence: Winning the lottery is a long shot, but it's not impossible.
Meaning: A snowball's chance in hell
● Example Sentence: He has a snowball's chance in hell of finishing that project on time.