verisimilitude

American  

[ver-uh-si-mil-i-tood, -tyood] / ˌvɛr ə sɪˈmɪl ɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /

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.

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verisimilitude British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of verisimilitude

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin vērīsimilitūdō, equivalent to vērī (genitive singular of vērum “truth”) + similitūdō similitude

Example Sentences

On the silver screen, it dazzles like few contemporary science fiction films do, opting for color over the pallid gray verisimilitude that often bogs down its peers.

From Salon

And yes, all of this would be nitpicking, given the series’ gleeful disregard for verisimilitude.

From The Wall Street Journal

The movie is a work of fiction, but it adds to its verisimilitude by including news footage and audio recordings of these attacks.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From Los Angeles Times

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

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• plausibility
• realism