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

“It’s important that she seems plausible as somebody who could pass,” Yu says.

From Los Angeles Times

Nature makes most of the decisions about how a dinosaur mount will look, but there is a little room for interpretation within the realm of the scientifically plausible.

From Los Angeles Times

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

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

“There will be dozens of other plausible Democrats thinking about the 2028 race, but none of them start with the advantages that Newsom has developed for himself.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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