improbability
/im,prɔbə'biliti/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The quality or state of being unlikely to happen or be true: "Improbability" refers to the condition of having a low chance of occurring or being the case.
- An event or circumstance that is very unlikely: "Improbability" can also refer to a specific thing that is highly unlikely.
Usage
- As an uncountable noun (quality): Used to describe the abstract characteristic of being improbable.
- The improbability of winning the lottery does not stop people from buying tickets.
- As a countable noun (instance): Used to refer to a specific unlikely event or fact.
- His story was full of wild improbabilities.
Examples
- The scientific report highlighted the statistical improbability of the results being due to chance.
- She was struck by the sheer improbability of meeting her childhood friend in a foreign country.
- The plot of the movie relied on a series of absurd improbabilities.
Advanced Usage
- "A statistical improbability": An event or outcome that is extremely unlikely based on mathematical probability.
- Surviving that accident was a statistical improbability.
- "Defy/defying improbability": To succeed or occur despite being very unlikely.
- The team's comeback defied all improbability.
Variants and Related Words
- Improbable (adj): Not likely to be true or to happen.
- It is improbable that it will rain in the desert.
- Improbably (adv): In an unlikely manner.
- The movie ended improbably with everyone becoming friends.
Synonyms
- Unlikelihood: The state of not being likely to happen.
- Implausibility: The quality of being difficult to believe; lack of credibility.
Antonyms
- Probability: The quality or state of being probable; likelihood.
- Certainty: Firm conviction that something is the case; an event that is sure to happen.
Related Phrases and Concepts
- Long odds: A low probability of success, often used in betting contexts.
- He won against long odds.
- A long shot: Something that has a very small chance of succeeding.
- Her plan to become CEO was a long shot.
Noun
- the quality of being improbable
- impossibility should never be confused with improbability
- the improbability of such rare coincidences