verosimile

Verosimile is an Italian term meaning plausible or credible. The word derives from vero, meaning true, and simile, meaning similar. In English-language scholarship, the related concept is verisimilitude.

In literary criticism, verosimile refers to the degree to which a narrative is believable within its own universe. It concerns the coherence of characters, setting, and cause-and-effect, as well as the naturalistic detail and plausibility of events. A work with high verosimile resists obvious anachronisms and implausibilities, and even fantastical elements can exhibit verosimile if integrated with consistent rules and a coherent world.

Historically, verosimile has been used in Italian aesthetics and broader debates about realism to describe how well a work conveys a truth-like appearance. In English, the closely related term verisimilitude is employed to discuss the appearance of truth across fiction, drama, film, and other media. The concept emphasizes plausibility within a given fictional system rather than factual accuracy.

Verosimile interacts with genre expectations and audience reception. Naturalistic and realist works often aim for high verosimile, while genres such as fantasy or science fiction may prioritize internal logical consistency or imaginative scope over strict plausibility. The term remains a key criterion for evaluating how effectively a work convinces readers or viewers that its depicted world could be real within its own rules. See also: Verisimilitude, Realism, Plausibility, Narrative fidelity.