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

The movie’s verisimilitude may trigger some Los Angeles viewers who know all too well the pain of recovering from a natural disaster.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It has the verisimilitude of a case study and the dread of an existential drama.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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

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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

Related Words

• plausibility www.thesaurus.com
• realism