plausible

Plausible is an adjective that describes something that seems reasonable or likely to be true, given the available evidence or background knowledge. A plausible explanation or theory fits the known facts well enough to be considered worthy of consideration, even if it has not been proven beyond doubt. In everyday use, people describe a story, excuse, or hypothesis as plausible when it appears credible, coherent, and consistent with what is already known.

The term derives from the Latin plausibilis “worthy of applause” via Old French plausible; the modern sense emphasizes that something deserves to be approved or accepted, at least provisionally, on the basis of its apparent plausibility rather than conclusive proof.

Plausible contrasts with related terms: probable refers to statistical likelihood or estimated chance, while credible emphasizes believability, often tied to the reliability of the source. A claim can be plausible without being probable or credible, and vice versa. In philosophy and rhetoric, plausibility is a criterion for argument strength: a plausible argument is coherent and supported by reasonable assumptions. In science, hypotheses are judged by their plausibility under prevailing theories and data, and by how well they withstand scrutiny.

Examples include: “It is plausible that the meeting was postponed because of a scheduling conflict,” or “Her alibi is plausible but not conclusive.” The phrase plausible deniability, occurring in political and security contexts, denotes the ability to deny knowledge of involvement with a veneer of credibility, even if the denial may be difficult to verify.