semblance

noun

sem·​blance ˈsem-blən(t)s 

1

a

: outward and often specious appearance or show : form

wrapped in a semblance of composure

—Harry Hervey

b

: modicum

has been struggling to get some semblance of justice for his people

—Bayard Rustin

2

: aspect, countenance

3

a

: a phantasmal form : apparition

b

: image, likeness

4

: actual or apparent resemblance

her story bears some semblance to the truth

Synonyms

• act
• airs
• charade
• disguise
• facade
• façade
• front
• guise
• masquerade
• playacting
• pose
• pretense
• pretence
• put-on
• show

Examples of semblance in a Sentence

tried to project some semblance of confidence even though public speaking terrified her

a used-car dealer with only a semblance of honesty

Recent Examples on the Web

With a starting price that will likely be around $150,000, the G 580 seems to be for those who want to signal a semblance of environmental virtue without giving up the allure of aggressive military drag. —Brett Berk, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2024

Still, the steady hum of progress has given even those most entrenched in the battle against global warming some semblance of optimism for the future. —Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024

Now, people are fighting to keep some semblance of flexibility. —Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 10 Apr. 2024

People hate being watched, especially in their cars where there is supposed to be some semblance of privacy. —Erin Marquis / Jalopnik, Quartz, 12 Mar. 2024

The outlets have logos and names that evoke a bygone era of American journalism, an effort to create a semblance of authenticity. —Steven Lee Myers, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024

Rather, his full-scale invasion of Ukraine was the moment Putin finally abandoned all semblance of cooperation with the West, and all pretence that dissent and criticism inside this great nation would be tolerated. —Matthew Chance, CNN, 24 Feb. 2024

The current presidential elections will not offer even a semblance of competition to Mr. Putin, much less give a limited stage to any critical opponent as past elections sometimes did. —Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb. 2024

For a franchise that will have missed the playoffs for eight straight seasons, any semblance of hope that Curry, maybe, one day, could possibly don a Hornets jersey is blind faith. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English semblance, semblaunce "outward appearance, mere appearance, show, facial expression, likeness," borrowed from Anglo-French, "likeness, form, demeanor, resemblance," from sembler "to resemble, seem, appear" (going back to Latin simulāre, similāre "to pretend, assume the appearance of by one's conduct, imitate") + -ance, -aunce -ance — more at simulate

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

semblance

noun

sem·​blance ˈsem-blən(t)s 

1

: outward and often misleading appearance or show

2

: one that resembles another : likeness, image