verisimilitude
Say it: veh-rih-sih-MIL-ih-tyood /ˌvɛrɪsɪˈmɪlɪtjuːd/ · noun
What “verisimilitude” means
How much something invented seems real.
More precisely: The quality of seeming true or real.
When to use it
A formal word for discussing the believable details that make a story, performance or fictional world feel real.
Memory trick
Latin verus means true and similis means like: something that seems true.
Similar words
realism, authenticity, plausibility
Where it comes from
Latin verisimilis 'probable', from verus 'true' and similis 'like'.
Quick check
A fictional café feels convincing because its sticky tables and tired staff seem familiar. Which quality does it have?
verisimilitude or originality?
Show the answer
verisimilitude
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