simulation

American  

[sim-yuh-lay-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

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Etymology

Origin of simulation

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

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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

And we took our cue, having done all this research into stuff that Elon said, from something he kept going over again: This idea that we’re likely living in a simulation.

From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026

Replacing real consumption with digital simulation might sound unusual, but behavioral scientists say substitution mechanisms like this can help.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

They can then observe its behavior directly, an approach known as quantum simulation.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026

A game's engine is a piece of software that packs everything needed to craft a playable experience - including graphics rendering, physics simulation and scripting - into one place for creators.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

“She watched your simulation live from her office.”

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Using computer simulations and electrochemical measurements, they developed a reactor design that places the electrodes closer together while allowing the electrolyte, the electrically conductive liquid carrying the reaction ingredients, to flow between them.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

Nongsa reservoir, which supplies water to Bakau Serip, where Dewi lives, would dry up over the next month with no rainfall, simulations by local environmental non-profit group Akar Bhumi Indonesia suggest.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

Rather than relying entirely on laboratory experiments, scientists can use the simulations to investigate how changes in these interactions might affect plaque formation and identify promising directions for further research.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026

Govind and Andersen contributed time-dependent density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations, respectively.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

The citizens were already busy sweeping up cupcake simulations, confetti, and party hats from last night’s celebration.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan

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Related Words

• reproduction

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