simulacrum

noun

sim·​u·​la·​crum ˌsim-yə-ˈla-krəm 

-ˈlā-

plural simulacra ˌsim-yə-ˈla-krə 

-ˈlā-

also simulacrums

1

: image, representation

a reasonable simulacrum of reality

—Martin Mayer

2

: an insubstantial form or semblance of something : trace

Did you know?

There is more than a crumb of similarity between simulacrum and simulate: both words come from simulāre, a Latin verb meaning "to pretend, produce a fraudulent imitation of, imitate." At the root of simulāre is the Latin adjective similis, which means "having characteristics in common." Many "similar" words trace back to similis, hence the resemblance between simulacrum and familiar terms like simultaneous, simile, and of course similarity.

Examples of simulacrum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What good is bringing a company to heel when what that company offers is a soulless simulacrum of Americana? —Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025

Cracker Barrel’s simulacrum of a mom-and-pop’s seems to have been effective, despite the reality of a sprawling corporate franchise. —Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025

The French philosopher Jean Baudrillard called this a simulacrum – a copy with no original. —Tamilla Triantoro, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2025

So, inevitably, attention turns to digital simulacra, to large language models like Claude and ChatGPT. —Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 14 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "image, representation," borrowed from Latin simulācrum "likeness, visual representation, image, statue, outward appearance of a person or thing (as in the imagination or a dream), phantom, sham appearance," from simulāre "to pretend, produce a fraudulent imitation of, imitate" + -crum, suffix of instruments (dissimilated from *-clum, going back to *-tlom) — more at simulate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for simulacrum

• sacrum

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!