verisimilar

Verisimilar is an adjective meaning having the appearance of truth or realism; the related noun is verisimilitude, the quality of seeming true or real. The word derives from Latin verisimilis “likeness to the truth,” from verus “truth” and similis “like.” It is used to describe how closely something, such as a narrative or depiction, resembles real life or probable events.

In literary and film criticism, verisimilitude describes the degree to which a work imitates reality or plausible sequences of events. Achieving verisimilitude involves maintaining internal consistency, plausible character motivations, credible setting details, and appropriate tonal and stylistic choices. The importance and level of verisimilitude can vary by genre and authorial intent.

Verisimilitude is not the same as truth or factual accuracy. A story can be verisimilar yet fictional, while a text presented as factual can lack verisimilitude if it presents implausible or inconsistent details. In historical fiction, verisimilitude rests on period-accurate language, customs, and settings; in science fiction, it rests on plausible world-building and coherent scientific extrapolation.

Beyond literature, the concept applies to visual media, theater, and rhetoric, where verisimilitude affects the persuasive or immersive quality of a depiction or argument. Critics and creators balance verisimilitude with artistic aims, recognizing that a high degree of realism can support credibility, while deliberate stylization or thematic focus may supersede strict realism.