veritable

adjective

ver·​i·​ta·​ble ˈver-ə-tə-bəl 

: being in fact the thing named and not false, unreal, or imaginary

—often used to stress the aptness of a metaphor

a veritable mountain of references

veritableness noun

veritably

ˈver-ə-tə-blē 

adverb

Did you know?

Veritable, like its close relative verity (“truth”), came to English through Anglo-French from Latin. Its ultimate source is the adjective vērus, meaning “true,” which also gave English verify, aver, and verdict. Veritable is often used as a synonym of genuine or authentic (“a veritable masterpiece”), but it is also frequently used to stress the aptness of a metaphor, often with a humorous tone (“a veritable swarm of lawyers”). In the past, language commentators objected to the latter use, but today it doesn’t draw much criticism.

Examples of veritable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For the Joyce’s two-week Ballet Festival, Copeland brings together dancers including Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Alexandra Hutchinson and the Paris Opera Ballet’s Guillaume Diop (a veritable star). — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 31 July 2026

Multiple schools across three states will soon have their own veritable platoons of pepper-spraying drones to hunt down active shooters, The Washington Post reports, waiting to spring into action the moment they’re called on. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 30 July 2026

What began in 2017 as a record label and music publishing company that represents some of the hottest names in rap, like Sheck Wes and Don Toliver, has evolved into a veritable ecosystem around Scott’s artistic and commercial endeavors. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 22 July 2026

Neill was, by all accounts, a veritable Mensch with a warmly low-key and self-deprecating personality. — ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "reliable, honest, true, factual," borrowed from Anglo-French (continental Old French, "real, true"), from verité "truth, verity" + -able -able

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for veritable

• heritable
• inheritable

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Kids Definition

veritable

adjective

ver·​i·​ta·​ble ˈver-ət-ə-bəl 

: actual, true

—often used to stress the appropriateness of a metaphor

a veritable mountain of papers

veritably

-blē 

adverb