/ ɪmˈprɒbəbl; NAmE -ˈprɑːb-/ adjective
1.
improbable (that ... ) not likely to be true or to happen
SYN unlikely :
an improbable story
It seems improbable that the current situation will continue.
It all sounded highly improbable .
OPP probable
2.
seeming strange because it is not what you would expect
SYN unexpected :
Her hair was an improbable shade of yellow.
► im·prob·abil·ity / ɪmˌprɒbəˈbɪləti; NAmE -ˌprɑːbə-/ noun [ U , C ]:
the improbability of finding them alive
statistical improbability
► im·prob·ably / -əbli; NAmE / adverb :
He claimed, improbably, that he had never been there.
an improbably happy end
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from French , or from Latin improbabilis hard to prove, from in- not + probabilis , from probare to test, demonstrate.