semblance

noun

sem·​blance ˈsem-blən(t)s How to pronounce semblance (audio)
1
a
: outward and often specious appearance or show : form
wrapped in a semblance of composureHarry Hervey
b
: modicum
has been struggling to get some semblance of justice for his peopleBayard Rustin
2
3
a
: a phantasmal form : apparition
4
: actual or apparent resemblance
her story bears some semblance to the truth

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 After all votes are counted in the premature Super Tuesday behemoth in 15 states, including attention-hungry California, there will be no semblance of a nominating contest in either party with several months remaining before the Democratic and Republican national conventions. George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Ten Hag has struggled to nail down a clear philosophy for the team and the players have struggled to showcase any semblance of what they are supposedly being taught on the training pitch. Liam Canning, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 The three biggest gangs that made the country one of the most violent places on earth appear to have lost any semblance of power. Natalie Kitroeff, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2024 Only the Vulture Mine retains a semblance of its former glory. Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 26 Jan. 2024 Only time will tell but hope remains that the Great Farmer Revolt will bring some semblance of rationality to Europe’s climate policies. Tilak Doshi, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 My time is dissected into pacing and pushing, with episodes of hurling myself past the breaking point and paying for it, only to feel a semblance of normal, of able, of the before—if there ever truly was a before, a time when this beast didn’t inhabit me. Kristina Kasparian, Longreads, 6 Feb. 2024 Once the dust settles, all stakeholders will temper the angst around the situation, and a semblance of normalcy will return to air travel. Sheldon Jacobson, The Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2024 No emotion lasts long enough to even insinuate a semblance of stability, a reflection of Malu’s mental health that, to no avail, Joana wants to get her help with. Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 27 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'semblance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of semblance was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near semblance

Cite this Entry

“Semblance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semblance. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

semblance

noun
sem·​blance ˈsem-blən(t)s How to pronounce semblance (audio)
1
: outward and often misleading appearance or show
2
: one that resembles another : likeness, image

More from Merriam-Webster on semblance

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