improbable

adjective

im·​prob·​a·​ble (ˌ)im-ˈprä-bə-bəl 

-ˈpräb-bəl

: unlikely to be true or to occur

an improbable story

also : unlikely but real or true

their improbable come-from-behind victory

improbability

(ˌ)im-ˌprä-bə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

improbably

(ˌ)im-ˈprä-bə-blē 

-ˈpräb-blē

adverb

Synonyms of improbable

• 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

Scented fleetingly with cinnamon, the dates gently smoked, their rightness with eggs sounds improbable. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

The Arizona State Sun Devils just completed an improbable run to the College Football Playoff only two years removed from the disastrous Herm Edwards era. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

That’s an improbable description for a longtime Wall Street exec — even more so for one who has spent 26 years climbing the ranks of Goldman Sachs, and who may soon ascend to the CEO job at the storied investment bank. — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

And that set up the Ravens' improbable finish that was capped by Loop's kick sailing through the uprights and the jubilant Ravens swarming their kicker during a wild celebration at the Maracana. — CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for improbable

• probable

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