unlikelihood
C1formal, academic, technical
Definition
Meaning
The state or quality of being improbable or not likely to happen.
The inherent improbability of a specific event, situation, or outcome. It can also refer to a specific improbable event or circumstance itself.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A more formal and precise synonym for 'improbability'. Often used in logical, statistical, or formal argumentation. Slightly more abstract and less common in casual speech than 'unlikelihood' or 'improbability'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major usage difference. The word is equally formal and used in similar contexts. 'Improbability' is also common in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral, technical connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British academic texts, but the difference is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + the unlikelihood of + [noun/gerund phrase]the unlikelihood that + [clause]despite + the unlikelihood ofVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not directly idiomatic; used within formal phrases like 'beyond the realm of likelihood']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in risk assessment reports: 'The proposal was rejected due to the high unlikelihood of a positive return on investment.'
Academic
Common in scientific papers and philosophical arguments: 'The study acknowledges the statistical unlikelihood of the results occurring by chance.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used humorously or for emphasis: 'Given the utter unlikelihood of him remembering, I set a reminder.'
Technical
Used in probability theory, logic, and statistics as a precise term for a low probability measure.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A – 'unlikelihood' is a noun.
American English
- N/A – 'unlikelihood' is a noun.
adverb
British English
- He is unlikely to arrive on time. (related adverb 'unlikely')
American English
- She will unlikely attend the meeting. (related adverb 'unlikely')
adjective
British English
- The unlikely event was discussed. (related adjective 'unlikely')
American English
- It was an unlikely scenario. (related adjective 'unlikely')
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He was aware of the unlikelihood of winning the lottery, but he bought a ticket anyway.
- The sheer unlikelihood of the coincidence made everyone suspicious.
- The report emphasised the statistical unlikelihood of such a market anomaly recurring.
- Despite the inherent unlikelihood of a peaceful resolution, diplomats continued their efforts.
- Philosophically, one must consider the unlikelihood that our perceptions correspond directly to reality.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'UN-LIKE-LI-HOOD'. It's the 'hood' (state) of something being 'not like' (unlike) to happen.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIKELIHOOD IS PROXIMITY / UNLIKELIHOOD IS DISTANCE (e.g., 'a remote possibility', 'far from likely').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating as 'неподобие' (which is incorrect). Correct equivalents are 'маловероятность' or 'невероятность'.
- Do not confuse with 'unlikeness' (непохожесть).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'unliklyhood' or 'unlikelihod'.
- Using it in overly casual contexts where 'improbability' or 'it's unlikely' would be more natural.
- Incorrect preposition: 'the unlikelihood for that happening' (correct: 'the unlikelihood of that happening').
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is 'unlikelihood' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are synonyms. 'Unlikelihood' is often perceived as slightly more formal or literary, while 'improbability' is common in technical and mathematical contexts.
Typically, it is neutral, describing a state of low probability. The context determines if that is positive (e.g., 'the unlikelihood of failure') or negative (e.g., 'the unlikelihood of success').
The most common pattern is 'the unlikelihood of + noun/gerund' (e.g., 'the unlikelihood of success', 'the unlikelihood of it happening'). The pattern 'the unlikelihood that + clause' is also correct but less frequent.
No. 'Unlikelihood' is a noun and is not modified by 'very'. You can use adjectives like 'sheer', 'extreme', 'great', or 'statistical' before it (e.g., 'the sheer unlikelihood').