unlikelihood

UK: /ʌnˈlaɪklihʊd/ US: (un līk′lē hŏŏd′)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

un•like•li•hood  (un līk′lē hŏŏd′), n. 

1. the state of being unlikely;
   improbability.

• unlikely + -hood 1475–85

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

un•like•ly /ʌnˈlaɪkli/   adj., -li•er, -li•est, adv. 
adj. 

1. not likely to be or occur;
   improbable;
   doubtful:
   an unlikely outcome.
   [It + be + ~  + (that) clause]
   It is unlikely that she knows him.
   [be + ~ + to  + verb]
   is unlikely to know him.
2. having little chance of success;
   unpromising:
   [before a noun] an unlikely candidate for the job.

adv. 
3. in an unlikely way.
un•like•li•hood, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

un•like•ly  (un līk′lē), adj., -li•er, -li•est, adv. 
adj. 

1. not likely to be or occur;
   improbable;
   marked by doubt.
2. holding little prospect of success;
   unpromising;
   likely to fail:
   He is an unlikely candidate for reelection.
3. not ingratiating;
   objectionable.

adv. 
4. in an unlikely way.
• Middle English unlikli. See un-¹, likely 1325–75
un•like′li•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

unlikely / ʌnˈlaɪklɪ/ adjective

1. not likely; improbable

unˈlikeliness, unˈlikelihood noun