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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"A Quilt of a Country," Vocabulary from the argument
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"A Quilt of a Country" by Anna Quindlen
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Lovers and ex-guerrillas Derlis Aizama and Daniel Paredes recently laid down arms to start a family, but Colombia's incoming hard-right administration might upend their improbable attempt at civilian life.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
The turkey was fine, and the cheese was technically cheese, though the sandwich had achieved the improbable condition of being simultaneously refrigerator-cold and slightly melted.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026
“A story requires a lot of improbable decisions. Maybe they’re not great decisions, but the person doesn’t know that at the time.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Mr. Kraus consulted cetologists to make the improbable premise plausible, but the visceral poetry is all his, and the father-son story hits home.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
It was all so quick, so improbable, that if she hadn’t seen it before, if she hadn’t done it herself, she never would have believed it.
From "The Reader" by Traci Chee
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.
