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Improbability: meaning, definitions and examples

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improbability

 

[ ɪmˌprɒbəˈbɪlɪti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

rare

The quality or state of being improbable; unlikelihood.

Synonyms

implausibility, unlikelihood, unlikeliness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
improbability

This word is often used in formal contexts, particularly in discussions involving scientific or statistical analysis. It indicates the quality of being unlikely to happen.

  • The improbability of winning the lottery is well-known
unlikelihood

This term is common in everyday conversation and writing, describing situations or events that are not likely to occur. It can be used in casual or formal contexts.

  • There is a strong unlikelihood of rain tomorrow
implausibility

Implausibility is used when something seems unbelievable or not convincing. It's often applied in critical reviews, stories, or theories.

  • The implausibility of the plot made the movie less enjoyable
unlikeliness

Similar to 'unlikelihood,' this word emphasizes how unlikely something is. It is more often used in narrative and descriptive writing.

  • The unlikeliness of their friendship made it all the more special

Examples of usage

  • The probability of winning the lottery is very low, indicating a high level of improbability.
  • The improbability of such a coincidence occurring is staggering.
Context #2 | Noun

statistics

The extent to which an event is unlikely to occur.

Synonyms

low probability, slim chance, unlikelihood.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
improbability

Used when describing a scenario that is not likely to occur, often in formal or technical contexts.

  • The improbability of winning the lottery is extremely high
  • Given the improbability of such an event, it is not factored into our predictions
unlikelihood

Typically used in formal writing to describe the state of being unlikely to happen.

  • The unlikelihood of the project being completed on time is concerning
  • She considered the unlikelihood of such an event occurring
low probability

Used in both formal and informal settings to describe scenarios or events that have a small chance of occurring.

  • There is a low probability of rain tomorrow
  • Given the low probability of this scenario, we should not rely on it
slim chance

Informal term used when referencing something that is unlikely to happen, often used in everyday conversations.

  • There's a slim chance we'll get tickets to the concert
  • With such a slim chance of winning, I wouldn't get my hopes up

Examples of usage

  • The improbability of rolling a six on a fair six-sided die is 1/6.
  • The data showed a high level of improbability in the results.
Context #3 | Noun

philosophy

In philosophy, the notion that an event or situation is highly unlikely or contrary to what is expected.

Synonyms

implausibility, unlikelihood, unlikeliness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
improbability

This is a repetition. The context and examples are the same as above.
unlikelihood

Use to indicate that something is not likely to happen, often in a more formal or statistical context.

  • Given the unlikelihood of rain, we decided to have the picnic outdoors
implausibility

Use when something is not believable or realistic, often in the context of stories, excuses, or theories.

  • The implausibility of his alibi made the detective suspicious
unlikeliness

Similar to 'unlikelihood', but more commonly used in everyday conversation to describe something that probably won't happen.

  • The unlikeliness of finding a taxi in this weather is quite high

Examples of usage

  • The improbability of life arising spontaneously from non-living matter is a topic of debate in philosophy.
  • The philosopher discussed the concept of improbability in relation to determinism.

Translations

Translations of the word "improbability" in other languages:

🇵🇹 improbabilidade

🇮🇳 असंभाव्यता

🇩🇪 Unwahrscheinlichkeit

🇮🇩 ketidakmungkinan

🇺🇦 неймовірність

🇵🇱 nieprawdopodobieństwo

🇯🇵 ありえないこと

🇫🇷 improbabilité

🇪🇸 improbabilidad

🇹🇷 olasılıksızlık

🇰🇷 불확실성

🇸🇦 استحالة

🇨🇿 nepravděpodobnost

🇸🇰 nepravdepodobnosť

🇨🇳 不大可能性

🇸🇮 neverjetnost

🇮🇸 ósennileiki

🇰🇿 мүмкін еместік

🇬🇪 სავარაუდოობა

🇦🇿 ehtimalsızlıq

🇲🇽 improbabilidad

Etymology

The word 'improbability' originated from the prefix 'im-' meaning 'not' or 'opposite of' and the word 'probability' which comes from the Latin 'probabilitas'. The concept of improbability has been discussed in various fields such as statistics, philosophy, and everyday language to describe events or outcomes that are unlikely to occur. It is often used to express the unlikelihood of a certain event happening.

See also: probabilistic, probabilities.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,891, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.