plausible

play

adjective plau·si·ble \ ˈplȯ-zə-bəl \

Definition of plausible

1 :superficially fair, reasonable, or valuable but often specious

a plausible pretext

2 :superficially pleasing or persuasive

a swindler … , then a quack, then a smooth, plausible gentleman
—R. W. Emerson

3 :appearing worthy of belief

the argument was both powerful and plausible

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plausibleness

noun

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plausibly

play \-blē\ adverb

See plausible defined for English-language learners

See plausible defined for kids

plausible was our Word of the Day on 07/31/2017. Hear the podcast!

Examples of plausible in a Sentence

I watch the ospreys who nest on Perch Island high atop their white spruce. Our sense of a plausible summer depends much on their diligent success at nest-building and procreation, and on their chicks fledging in late August. —Richard Ford, Wall Street Journal, 14-15 June 2008
… I'd mastered the quick size-up. Does the person seem agreeable over coffee at the drugstore counter and picking up his mail at the post office, drive a plausible vehicle, and know the weather forecast? —Edward Hoagland, Harper's, June 2007
Now, two NASA scientists, both also astronauts, suggest a simpler, safer, and much more plausible way of diverting an offending asteroid. Their method relies on the gravitational tug of a massive, unmanned spacecraft to pull the rock away from a damaging rendezvous with Earth. —R. Cowen, Science News, 12 Nov. 2005
… string theorists can exhibit plausible models of a unified Universe, but unfortunately they cannot explain why we inhabit a particular one. —Michael Atiyah, Nature, 22-29 Dec. 2005
it's a plausible explanation for the demise of that prehistoric species

Recent Examples of plausible from the Web

If a novelist needs to cut down a number of his characters in the prime of their lives, or deliver some other collective misfortune, a wedding is a plausible means of getting them all in the same room at the same time.

— rosa lyster, The Cut, "Why Weddings in Books Are Always Terrible," 20 July 2017
The war’s outcome is fixed, but one winces nevertheless every time John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, or the defense secretary who served them both, Robert S. McNamara, ignores or rejects a plausible exit strategy.

— vanityfair.com, "Why The Vietnam War Is Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s Most Ambitious Project Yet," 12 July 2017
Valerian will have a tight if not altogether plausible plot, easily translatable dialog, and striking images and action.

— adam rogers, WIRED, "Luc Besson Tests the Outer Limits With Sci-Fi Epic Valerian," 6 July 2017
Given this timeframe, the researchers calculated that a huge mtDNA shift, based on low-level interbreeding, was, in fact, plausible.

— cathleen o'grady, Ars Technica, "Neanderthal DNA suggests yet another wave of human migration out of Africa," 5 July 2017
In many ways, it's always seemed like Messi would be a one-club player, the threat of him leaving not really all that plausible.

— avi creditor, SI.com, "Messi's new Barcelona contract appropriately makes him a one-club player," 5 July 2017
In other words, says Reiss, if scientific research is inconclusive, can an individual still plead their case with other types of plausible evidence, including circumstantial evidence?

— gretchen vogel, Science | AAAS, "Decision by Europe’s top court alarms vaccine experts," 27 June 2017
Still, this scenario is plausible: Carmel’s Drew Kibler, 17, could be the youngest male swimmer since Phelps to be on the U.S. team for the World Championships.

— david woods, Indianapolis Star, "Carmel swimmer could be youngest male swimmer on U.S. team since Michael Phelps," 25 June 2017
Or at least, that's what Miriam believes — one workable (if not exactly plausible) explanation for why so many city employees are coming to check on her just as the real estate interest in her house heats up.

— john defore, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Can Hitler Happen Here?': Film Review," 16 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plausible.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

You Can Believe This History of plausible

Today the word plausible usually means "reasonable" or "believable," but it once held the meanings "worthy of being applauded" and "approving." It comes to us from the Latin adjective plausibilis ("worthy of applause"), which in turn derives from the verb plaudere, meaning "to applaud or clap." Other "plaudere" descendants in English include "applaud," "plaudit" (the earliest meaning of which was "a round of applause"), and "explode" (from Latin explodere, meaning "to drive off the stage by clapping).