improbable

/ɪmˈpɹɑbəbl̩/

//ɪmˈpɹɑbəbl̩// adj

"improbable" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“improbable” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #19,865 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#19,865
frequency rank, English
10
letters
16
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Not likely to be true.

Key facts for improbable
PropertyValue
Headwordimprobable
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ɪmˈpɹɑbəbl̩/
Letters10
Frequency rank#19,865
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “improbable” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). improbable lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for improbable is 10 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪmˈpɹɑbəbl̩/. Corpus data places it at rank #19,865 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for improbable, with forms such as "immprobable", "imporbable", and "impprobable". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since nothing in our dataset looks or sounds close enough to cause mix-ups.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin improbābilis. By surface analysis, im- + probable. The correct English form is improbable, spelled I-M-P-R-O-B-A-B-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Not likely to be true.
  2. 2
    Not likely to happen.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin improbābilis. By surface analysis, im- + probable.

Antonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: immprobable,imporbable,impprobable,imprboable,improabble,improbabble,improbabel,improbablle,improbalbe,improbbable,improbbale,improbible,imprrobable,imrpobable,ipmrobable,miprobable

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of improbable - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

immprobable1imporbable2impprobable1imprboable2improabble2improbabble1improbabel2improbablle1
Edit distance from "improbable"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "improbable"?
"improbable" is spelled I-M-P-R-O-B-A-B-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪmˈpɹɑbəbl̩/.
What does "improbable" mean?
As an adjective, "improbable" means: Not likely to be true.
What are common misspellings of "improbable"?
Common misspellings include "immprobable", "imporbable", "impprobable", "imprboable", "improabble". The correct spelling is "improbable".
How do you pronounce "improbable"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "improbable" is /ɪmˈpɹɑbəbl̩/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "improbable"?
Borrowed from Latin improbābilis. By surface analysis, im- + probable. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “improbable”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is I-M-P-R-O-B-A-B-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪmˈpɹɑbəbl̩/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list