verisimilitude
/ˌver.ɪ.sɪˈmɪl.ɪ.tjuːd/ IELTSAcademic
noun
The quality of seeming true or real. Writers and filmmakers use it for details that make a story believable.
- The film had strong verisimilitude.
- Her novel creates a sense of verisimilitude.
- The fake document lacked verisimilitude.
Adinary Nuance
Verisimilitude is close to realism, but it focuses on how believable something seems. Realism can describe a style that copies life closely; verisimilitude means the work feels true, even if it is fictional. Writers often use it for the small details that make readers believe the scene.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tính chân thực
- Spanish
- verosimilitud
- Chinese
- 逼真性
- Japanese
- もっともらしさ
- Korean
- 그럴듯함
Etymology
From Latin verisimilitudo, from veri similis, meaning 'like the truth'. It entered English through French and older scholarly writing.
Common phrases
a sense of verisimilitudeverisimilitude in fictionstrive for verisimilitudeadd verisimilitude to
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is verisimilitude a common word?
- No, it is fairly formal and uncommon in daily speech. You will see it more in literature, film, and academic writing.
- What is the difference between verisimilitude and realism?
- Realism is a style that shows life closely. Verisimilitude is the feeling that something is true or believable.
- How do I use verisimilitude in a sentence?
- Use it for stories, films, or scenes that feel real. For example: 'The dialogue gives the play verisimilitude.'
- Is verisimilitude used in business writing?
- Rarely. It sounds too literary for most business documents.