unlikely
/ˌʌnˈlaɪkli/
adjective
unlikelier;
unlikeliest
unlikelier;
unlikeliest
Britannica Dictionary definition of UNLIKELY
[or more unlikely; most unlikely]
1
:
not likely
—
used to say that something probably will not happen or is not true
-
It is unlikely that the company will survive more than another year.
-
That explanation is unlikely to be true.
-
an unlikely story [=a story that is hard to believe]
-
Her recovery is unlikely. = It is unlikely that she will recover. = She is unlikely to recover.
-
In the unlikely event that I win the lottery, I will pay off the mortgage.
2
always used before a noun
:
not seeming to be right or suited for a purpose
-
He was an unlikely candidate for the position.
-
A big city seems like an unlikely place to find wildlife.
-
I received support from an unlikely ally.
-
an unlikely combination