plausible
Americanadjective
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apparently reasonable, valid, truthful, etc
a plausible excuse
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apparently trustworthy or believable
a plausible speaker
Synonym Usage
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).
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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superplausiblyadverb
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unplausiblenessnoun
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superplausiblenessnoun
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nonplausibleadjective
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nonplausiblyadverb
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nonplausiblenessnoun
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nonplausibilitynoun
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superplausibleadjective
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overplausibleadjective
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plausiblyadverb
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overplausiblyadverb
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unplausibleadjective
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overplausiblenessnoun
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unplausiblyadverb
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plausibilitynoun
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plausiblenessnoun
Etymology
Origin of plausible
First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin plausibilis “deserving applause,” equivalent to plaus(us) (past participle of plaudere “to applaud” + -ibilis adjective suffix; see origin at applaud, -ible
Compare meaning
How does plausible compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
If something is plausible, it's reasonable or believable. Things that are plausible could easily happen. A child learning to ride a bike is plausible. A giraffe doing it is not. Plausible things are not far-fetched at all. Things in fantasy stories — such as wizards, dragons, and unicorns — are not plausible. On the other hand, some things in science fiction stories might be plausible: who knows where spaceships will eventually go? If something really seems like it could happen, then it's plausible. One of the many tricky parts of life is figuring out what's plausible and what's not.
Vocabulary lists containing plausible
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Grade 9, List 6
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Word Generation Science - Scientific Thinking
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The report said that plans to build orbiting satellite data centers powered by the sun that would perform AI calculations were plausible but would require “uproven engineering to succeed.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
A bedroom or a bunker is a plausible laboratory in a way it has never been for previous dual-use technology.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
It also draws on the cognitive science tradition to identify a plausible list of indicators of consciousness based on the structure of information processing.
From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2026
Instead, she points out that other outcomes are also plausible, including a growing risk that inflation could remain sticky if energy costs do not come down quickly, causing businesses to raise prices.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
Experiments have shown that statements like the ones in the left column, which deny a plausible belief, are easier to understand than statements in the right column, which deny an implausible belief.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
