simulacrum
noun
a slight, unreal, or superficial likeness or semblance.
simulacra
-
pluralof simulacrum.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Today I have put aside my plush ball in search of the real,” Gelsomina thinks, amusingly invoking semioticians such as Jean Baudrillard, who explored simulacra and authenticity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
She added, “We’ve reached a saturation point with retail simulacra: Everything is a copy of a copy, and even things that started in Copenhagen are now at Wayfair.”
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 21, 2023
Italian semiotician and author Umberto Eco said as much in his seminal Il costume di casa, or "Faith in Fakes," in which he attempted to unfurl "America's obsession with simulacra and counterfeit reality."
From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2023
Philosopher John Searle made a fairly convincing argument that mere simulacra of understanding language can exist without real comprehension.
From Slate ● Dec. 13, 2022
They are ghosts, not men; simulacra modis pallentia miris.
From A Study of Shakespeare by Edmund Gosse
