improbable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of improbable
From the Latin word improbābilis, dating back to 1590–1600. See im- 2, probable
Explanation
Your parents might tell you it's improbable that they'll buy you a car when you turn 16. Since improbable means something is unlikely but not impossible, your optimism allows you to keep hoping. The adjective improbable also means statistically unlikely to happen. You might be afraid to fly, but the odds of a plane crash are so low that such an event is improbable. Improbable also means something that is so outrageous that you'd never admit you believed in it. You know the existence of the Loch Ness Monster is improbable, but that doesn't stop you from looking for it when you travel to Scotland.
Vocabulary lists containing improbable
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 20–25
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"A Quilt of a Country," Vocabulary from the argument
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"A Quilt of a Country" by Anna Quindlen
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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.
In Tijuana, Justin Turner has nurtured a special bond with his son and emerged as an improbable tourist attraction for Dodgers fans.
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026
He wrote in his “The Fusion Conclusion” newsletter that many fusion experts “think that what TAE is trying to do is improbable if not impossible and have physics-informed calculations to back up their opinions.”
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
US media reports cite aviation experts as saying fuel switches in a Boeing 737 lock into position, making it improbable they were switched off accidentally.
From Barron's • May 8, 2026
While some of those were due to duplicate entries or deceased voters, many were also removed for “logical discrepancies” flagged by software such as too-large families or improbable age gaps between parents and children.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
The vendor who formerly had the Quarter route wore an improbable pirate’s outfit, a Paradise Vendor’s nod to New Orleans folklore and history', a Clydian attempt to link the hot dog with Creole legend.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
