improbability

American

[im-prob-uh-bil-i-tee, im-prob-] / ɪmˌprɒb əˈbɪl ɪ ti, ˌɪm prɒb- /

noun

plural

improbabilities

the quality or condition of being improbable; unlikelihood.
something improbable or unlikely.

Etymology

Origin of improbability

First recorded in 1590–1600; improbable + -ity

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"The inherent improbability that such a large number of journalists would do that should be borne in mind," White argued.

From Barron's • Jan. 20, 2026

I wish I could tell you I respected the improbability of the windfall by immediately retreating to my suite.

From Slate • Nov. 18, 2025

Such improbability is what propelled the Club 27 myth to prominence, and subsequent deaths — especially Kurt Cobain’s passing — continue to fuel its mystique, Dunivin said.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 5, 2024

The prosecution's main argument in the 2003 trial was that it was a statistical improbability that so many of Ms Folbigg's children could have died accidentally.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2023

In the case of the California couple, improbability carries more weight, but still, their defense attorney's argument was the right one.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023