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

• pretense
• facade
• guise
• show
• pretence
• pose
• act

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

But all the desire in the world didn’t help as Jennings struggled to be some semblance of himself in the loss, with some of the frustration spilling over in a sideline interaction with coach Kyle Shanahan late in the first half. —Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025

When Warner went down in the first quarter, there was the semblance of a shift. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025

While playoff baseball has evolved in recent years, making a deep October run still requires some semblance of quality starting pitching. —The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025

Through her restraint, Roberts provokes in us some semblance of empathy for her character – in a movie where everyone else is basically monstrous. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for semblance

• resemblance

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