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improbable

improbable, unlikely

adjective am-pro-BABL Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Conditions

Usage Note

Improbable translates English 'unlikely', but French uses it more freely for people or things that seem implausible or eccentric. Un personnage improbable describes an unlikely, oddball character. The noun improbabilité is less common but standard.

Examples

"Cette rencontre est improbable mais possible."

Natural Translation

This encounter is improbable but possible.

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