simulation

American  

[sim-yuh-ley-shuhn] / ˌsɪm jəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

simulations plural

1. imitation or enactment, as of something anticipated or in testing.

2. the act or process of pretending; feigning.

3. an assumption or imitation of a particular appearance or form; counterfeit; sham.

4. Psychiatry. a conscious attempt to feign some mental or physical disorder to escape punishment or to gain a desired objective.

5. the representation of the behavior or characteristics of one system through the use of another system, especially a computer program designed for the purpose.

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simulation British  

/ ˌsɪmjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of simulating

2. the assumption of a false appearance or form

3. a representation of a problem, situation, etc, in mathematical terms, esp using a computer

4. maths statistics computing the construction of a mathematical model for some process, situation, etc, in order to estimate its characteristics or solve problems about it probabilistically in terms of the model

5. psychiatry the conscious process of feigning illness in order to gain some particular end; malingering

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonsimulation
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• simulations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of simulation

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English simulacion, from Latin simulātiōn- (stem of simulātiō ) “a pretense”; see simulate, -ion

Explanation

A simulation is a representation of something, not the real thing, like the simulation of life in New York City, seen in movies that were shot on Hollywood sound stages and on the streets of Toronto. A simulation is something that represents something else — it isn't the real thing. At times you might perform a simulation as practice for real life, such as a flight simulation that’s used to train pilots. The word can also be used, often dismissively, to describe something that is a fake, like a simulation of excitement or the simulation of a perfect diamond.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

simulation simulations

Switzerland's Breel Embolo was the first player to be sent off as a result of the new law following a controversial second yellow card for simulation against Argentina.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

By combining the simulation results with spacecraft observations, the researchers conclude that Venus has a more active and dynamic interior than previously assumed.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026

As Rizzo’s study notes, this also means that the interactions with different people and cultures that used to happen organically in neighborhoods and in social spaces are increasingly being replaced by digital simulation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

"This is a simulation... the reality is going to be that much more intense."

From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026

Two more cadets rushed by me on their way to the simulation test, and I hurried after them and into the testing room, my eyes immediately combing the room for Elliot.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

In addition, the team ran N-body simulations to track the formation of moons and the gradual movement of their orbits.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026

Numerical simulations also showed that the speed of optical pulses could be adjusted dynamically while the circuit was operating.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026

Those simulations show that the churning material near the surface can escape unevenly rather than flowing away in a smooth, balanced pattern.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026

The simulations produced solutions that aligned with theoretical predictions and performed well on smaller problems where the correct answers could be checked.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026

It lit up, presenting me with the same choices I’d had on my first night here: a handful of training films and simulations, including the complete run of Tommy Queue episodes.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Related Words

• reproduction