improbable

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French improbable, from im- +‎ probable.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɪmˈpɹɑbəbl̩/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɪmˈpɹɒbəbl̩/

• Audio (UK):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: im‧prob‧a‧ble

Adjective

improbable (comparative more improbable, superlative most improbable)

1. Not likely to be true.

   It's highly improbable that aliens abducted you.

   • 1674, [Richard Allestree], “Of Positiveness”, in The Government of the Tongue. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: At the Theater, →OCLC, page 197:

     Nay, if he be of a proud humour, […] he will not Bate an Ace of abſolute certainty, but however doubtful or improbable the thing is, coming f[r]om him it muſt go for an indiſputable truth.

2. Not likely to happen.

   Due to the loss of power, it is improbable that we will begin on time.

See also

• impossible

Adjective

improbable m or f (masculine and feminine plural improbables)

1. improbable, unlikely

   Antonym: probable

Further reading

• “improbable” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “improbable”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2025
• “improbable” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “improbable” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

Etymology

From im- +‎ probable.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛ̃.pʁɔ.babl/

• Audio (Canada):

  (file)

Adjective

improbable (plural improbables)

1. unlikely, improbable (not likely)

   Synonym: peu probable

Further reading

• “improbable”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Alternative forms

• improvável (reintegrationist)
• improbábel

Pronunciation

This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with the IPA then please add some!

Adjective

improbable m or f (plural improbables)

1. improbable (not likely to happen)

   Antonym: probable

Further reading

• “improbable”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2025

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /impɾoˈbable/ [ĩm.pɾoˈβ̞a.β̞le]
• Rhymes: -able
• Syllabification: im‧pro‧ba‧ble

Adjective

improbable m or f (masculine and feminine plural improbables)

1. improbable, unlikely

   Antonym: probable

Further reading

• “improbable”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10