plausible

[ plaw-zuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. having an appearance of truth or reason; seemingly worthy of approval or acceptance; credible; believable:

   a plausible excuse; a plausible plot.

   Antonyms: sincere, honest

2. well-spoken and apparently, but often deceptively, worthy of confidence or trust:

   a plausible commentator.

plausible

/ ˈplɔːzəbəl /

adjective

1. apparently reasonable, valid, truthful, etc

   a plausible excuse

2. apparently trustworthy or believable

   a plausible speaker

Derived Forms

• ˈplausibly, adverb
• ˌplausiˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• plausi·bili·ty plausi·ble·ness noun
• plausi·bly adverb
• nonplau·si·bili·ty noun
• non·plausi·ble adjective
• non·plausi·ble·ness noun
• non·plausi·bly adverb
• over·plausi·ble adjective
• over·plausi·ble·ness noun
• over·plausi·bly adverb
• super·plausi·ble adjective
• super·plausi·ble·ness noun
• super·plausi·bly adverb
• un·plausi·ble adjective
• un·plausi·ble·ness noun
• un·plausi·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of plausible¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin plausibilis “deserving applause,” equivalent to plaus(us) (past participle of plaudere “to applaud” + -ibilis adjective suffix; applaud, -ible

Word History and Origins

Origin of plausible¹

C16: from Latin plausibilis worthy of applause, from plaudere to applaud

Synonym Study

Plausible, specious describe that which has the appearance of truth but might be deceptive. The person or thing that is plausible strikes the superficial judgment favorably; it may or may not be true: a plausible argument (one that cannot be verified or believed in entirely). Specious definitely implies deceit or falsehood; the surface appearances are quite different from what is beneath: a specious pretense of honesty; a specious argument (one deliberately deceptive, probably for selfish or evil purposes).

Example Sentences

One plausible way to read this election is as a protest vote against the Democrats as the incumbent party, reflecting a broad feeling that the country is headed in the wrong direction and something must change on a fundamental level.

From Salon

The ICJ considers the claims made by South Africa about possible rights violations constituting genocide to be plausible, and that the consequence of waiting for the ruling could be catastrophic.

From Salon

"It is plausible that oil-related pollution could contribute to an increased risk of birth defects," says Dr Nicole Deziel, an environmental health specialist at Yale University.

From BBC

During a select committee hearing on Tuesday. the OBR's Prof David Miles said it was "very plausible" this would disproportionately affect lower-paid workers.

From BBC

There are very big questions for the UK government about where exactly the post-Brexit UK should seat itself in a plausible, if not certain, transatlantic trade war.

From BBC

Related Words

• conceivable
• credible
• logical
• persuasive
• possible
• probable
• tenable
• valid