verisimilitude

[ver-uh-si-mil-i-tood, -tyood]

noun

1. the appearance or semblance of truth; genuineness; authenticity.

   The play lacked verisimilitude.

2. something, as an assertion, having merely the appearance of truth.

verisimilitude

/ ˌvɛrɪsɪˈmɪlɪˌtjuːd /

noun

1. the appearance or semblance of truth or reality; quality of seeming true

2. something that merely seems to be true or real, such as a doubtful statement

Word History and Origins

Origin of verisimilitude¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin vērīsimilitūdō, equivalent to vērī (genitive singular of vērum “truth”) + similitūdō similitude

Word History and Origins

Origin of verisimilitude¹

C17: from Latin vērisimilitūdō, from vērus true + similitūdō _similitude

Example Sentences

“It managed to achieve a verisimilitude that would leave any Korean in awe.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Jean-Baptiste has credited this verisimilitude to Leigh’s intensive rehearsal process, where he and his actors work together to create characters from the ground up before shooting ever begins.

Read more on Salon

Even the detail Mason offered up that the air conditioning wasn’t working that grim day became a point of verisimilitude for Fehlbaum, so he turned it off on the Bavaria stage.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But as with the many monitors, the walkie-talkies and rotary phones and control panels all worked, a verisimilitude that, to Benesch, made each uninterrupted, carefully choreographed take that much more stressful.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That knowledge adds additional layers of defiance and bravery to this grim tale, which incorporates actual protest footage and video of police brutality to amplify the narrative’s verisimilitude.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• plausibility www.thesaurus.com
• realism