What does unlikely mean?
Unlikely is an adjective meaning that something is not expected to happen, be true, succeed, or be selected. It describes a low probability rather than an absolute impossibility, and its strength can vary with context: an event described as “quite unlikely” is less probable than one described as “entirely unlikely.” The word is especially common in expressions such as “unlikely to happen,” “unlikely to be true,” and “an unlikely candidate.” In formal writing, it can convey cautious judgment: a claim may be called unlikely when the available evidence does not support it, without claiming that it is definitely false. Unlike “improbable,” which often emphasizes how extraordinary something is, “unlikely” can be used broadly for anything considered improbable. The word is standard in British and American English and functions mainly as a predicate adjective, although it is also frequently used before nouns such as “candidate,” “outcome,” or “explanation.”
adjectiveNot likely to happen, be true, or be the case. It can also describe someone or something considered unlikely to succeed, be suitable, or be chosen.
- Not likely to happen or occur.
- Not likely to be true or accurate.
- Not likely to succeed, be chosen, or be suitable.
"It is unlikely that the plane will leave before the storm passes."
"The proposed explanation seems unlikely, given the evidence."
"She was an unlikely candidate for the role, but she got the job."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unlikely come from?
“Unlikely” was formed in English by combining the negative prefix “un-” with the established adjective “likely.” The prefix “un-” has long been used in English to create negatives, while “likely” has older roots associated with resemblance, appearance, and plausibility. The resulting adjective therefore literally conveys the idea of not being likely or plausible.
Related word forms
How unlikely is actually used
The word is neutral and common in formal and informal English. It usually indicates that something is improbable rather than absolutely impossible, and it is especially frequent in constructions such as “unlikely to” followed by an infinitive.
Easily confused with unlikely
Unlike means different from or not similar to something, whereas unlikely means improbable or not expected to happen or be true.