English Reference
Adjective

implausible

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌɪmˈpɫɔzəbəɫ/ UK /ɪmplˈɔːzəbəl/ im·plau·si·ble

adj.not likely to be true or possible. You use this to describe a story or an explanation that seems very strange or hard to believe.

adj.unlikely to be true or possible; not credible. Often used to describe narratives, arguments, or explanations that lack sufficient evidence or logical consistency.


SIMPLE

The story of a giant rabbit is implausible.

CONTEXTUAL

The suspect's alibi was implausible because he claimed to be at a quiet library while the crime was happening in a busy city center.

COMPLEX

While the theory provides a useful framework for understanding the data, the final conclusion remains implausible given the lack of supporting evidence from the field trials.

The man couldn’t change a light bulb by himself … His death scenario is completely implausible to everybody that knew him.” 411: Did Epstein’s cellmate know too much?

Toronto Sun· 15 Aug 2026

From im- + plausible.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated