plausible

[ plaw-zuh-buhl ]
/ ˈplɔ zə bəl /

adjective

having an appearance of truth or reason; seemingly worthy of approval or acceptance; credible; believable: a plausible excuse; a plausible plot.
well-spoken and apparently, but often deceptively, worthy of confidence or trust: a plausible commentator.

Origin of plausible

1535–45; < Latin plausibilis deserving applause, equivalent to plaus(us) (past participle of plaudere to applaud) + -ibilis -ible

SYNONYMS FOR plausible

1 Plausible, specious describe that which has the appearance of truth but might be deceptive. The person or thing that is plausible strikes the superficial judgment favorably; it may or may not be true: a plausible argument (one that cannot be verified or believed in entirely). Specious definitely implies deceit or falsehood; the surface appearances are quite different from what is beneath: a specious pretense of honesty; a specious argument (one deliberately deceptive, probably for selfish or evil purposes).

OTHER WORDS FROM plausible

Example sentences from the Web for plausibility

British Dictionary definitions for plausibility

plausible
/ (ˈplɔːzəbəl) /

adjective

apparently reasonable, valid, truthful, etc a plausible excuse
apparently trustworthy or believable a plausible speaker

Derived forms of plausible

plausibility or plausibleness, noun plausibly, adverb

Word Origin for plausible

C16: from Latin plausibilis worthy of applause, from plaudere to applaud