Verisimilitude Meaning
/vɛɹɪsɪˈmɪlɪtjuːd/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounThe property of seeming true, of resembling reality; resemblance to reality.
nounA statement which merely appears to be true.
Sentence Examples
It is interesting how this conspiracy theory author abandons all attempts at verisimilitude.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The novel's strong ____ made readers believe the fictional events were real.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The novelist worked hard to achieve a sense of ____ in his story, making every single detail seem completely real today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle French vérisimilitude, from Latin vērīsimilitūdō (“likeness to truth”), more correctly written separately as vērī similitūdō; from vērī, genitive singular of vērus (“true, real”), + similitūdō (“likeness, resemblance”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"On July 12, Madame filed suit for divorce, naming one Jane McManus as his principal mistress. Other adulteries were noted in the interest of verisimilitude."
— 1973, Gore Vidal, chapter 16, in Burr:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The novel's strong ____ made readers believe the fictional events were real.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The novelist worked hard to achieve a sense of ____ in his story, making every single detail seem completely real today.