Plausible

Seeming right or reasonable; appearing to be true or probable.

adjective

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Imagine This

Imagine a detective presenting three explanations for a clue: one is flashy but unfounded, one is carefully supported by evidence, and the third actually fits all the facts. The second explanation sounds plausible because it could reasonably explain all the clues.

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Sounds Like

PLAWS-uh-buhl

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Looks Like

Looks like plausibility and plausibly; shares the same root plaus- as related forms.

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Remember This

Plausible means it seems true or reasonable, not proven. It relates to plausibility; something can be plausible but still be false.

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Other Forms

plausibilitynoun

plausiblyadverb

plausiblenessnoun

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Connect With

credible, believable, feasible, tenable, conceivable, probable

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Note

Do not confuse plausible with proven or certain. Plausible describes credibility or likelihood, and can be challenged by new evidence.

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Study Deeper

Examples

The explanation seemed plausible, but the investigators doubted it until they found more evidence.
Her alibi was plausible enough to avoid immediate suspicion.

Synonyms

crediblebelievabletenableconceivableprobable

Antonyms

implausibleunbelievableimprobableunlikely

Etymology

From Latin plausibilis 'worthy of applause', from plausus 'applause', from plaudere 'to applaud'.

Mnemonic

Mnemonic: Plausible = Plaud-ibilis: worthy of applause. If an idea earns applause, it is plausible.