simulacrum

American  

[sim-yuh-ley-kruhm] / ˌsɪm yəˈleɪ krəm /

noun

plural

simulacra

1. a slight, unreal, or superficial likeness or semblance.

2. an effigy, image, or representation.

   a simulacrum of Aphrodite.

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simulacrum British  

/ ˌsɪmjʊˈleɪkrəm /

noun

1. any image or representation of something

2. a slight, unreal, or vague semblance of something; superficial likeness

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Etymology

Origin of simulacrum

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin simulācrum “likeness, image,” equivalent to simulā(re) “to pretend, imitate” + -crum instrumental suffix; see origin at simulate

Explanation

A simulacrum is a fake version of something real. A wax museum is full of simulacrums of famous people. Simulacrum comes from the Latin word simulare meaning "to make like" and is related to words like simulate (to imitate) and similarity. A simulacrum might look like a person, but it's usually a sculpture. Also, a simulacrum can be a representation that's not very good. If you say, "This video game is only a simulacrum of playing football!" that means it does a poor job of copying the game.

Example Sentences

This month, John Zorn released a new album of pieces for his metal-adjacent group Simulacrum.

From New York Times • Aug. 12, 2021

Loud-blaring Nonentity, no force of trumpets, cash, Long-acre art, or universal flunkyhood of men, makes thee an Entity; thou art a Nonentity, and deceptive Simulacrum, more accursed than thou seemest.

From Past and Present Thomas Carlyle's Collected Works, Vol. XIII. by Carlyle, Thomas

The man's words were not false, nor his workings here below; no Inanity and Simulacrum; a fiery mass of Life cast-up from the great bosom of Nature herself.

From Sacred Books of the East by Various

The man’s words were not false, nor his workings here below; no Inanity and Simulacrum; a fiery mass of Life cast-up from the great bosom of Nature herself.

From Sartor Resartus, and On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History by Carlyle, Thomas

Simulacrum, sim-ū-lā′krum, n. an image, unreal phantom: a formal sign:—pl.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various