semblance Meaning & Definition
What Does Semblance Mean?
As a noun, semblance means The outward appearance or form of a person or thing. It can also mean Followed by of: the outward appearance of a person or thing when regarded as similar to that of another person or thing.
Semblance: Key Facts
| Part of speech | noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈsɛmblən(t)s/ |
| Synonyms | illusion, color and likeness |
| Plural | semblances |
Semblance Definition (Noun)
- The outward appearance or form of a person or thing.
- Followed by of: the outward appearance of a person or thing when regarded as similar to that of another person or thing.
- Followed by of: the outward appearance of a person or thing which is different from what the person or thing actually is; also, an outward appearance of a thing which does not actually exist.
- Followed by of: a person or thing that is seen; an apparition, a vision.
- Followed by of: a person or thing that looks similar to another person or thing; a likeness.
- Followed by of: a bare or mere appearance of something.
- A person's non-verbal behaviour or demeanour which shows their feelings, thoughts, etc., or which is faked to hide such true feelings, thoughts, etc.
- In the form make semblance: an act of appearing; an appearance, a manifestation; also, a false appearance, a pretence.
- The quality or state of being similar; likeness, resemblance, similarity.
- The chance of something happening; likelihood, probability.
Synonyms of Semblance
Semblance synonyms and antonyms →Word Forms & Grammar
semblance (countable and uncountable, plural semblances)
Words That Rhyme With Semblance
Origin of Semblance
From Middle English semblaunce (“outward appearance, form; appearance without reality; condition or fact of being apparent; symbolic image; facial expression, countenance; conduct, manner; image, likeness; analogy, comparison”),[1] from Anglo-Norman semblaunce and Old French semblance (modern French semblance), from semblant,[2] the present participle of sembler (“to appear; to resemble, seem”), from Late Latin similāre, the present active infinitive of similō, a variant of Latin simulō (“to act or behave as if; to imitate, simulate”), from similis (“like resembling, similar to”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one; together”)) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs). By surface analysis, semble + -ance (suffix forming nouns denoting conditions or states).
Common Questions About Semblance
What part of speech is semblance?
Semblance is a noun.
What is another word for semblance?
Words with a similar meaning to semblance include illusion, color and likeness. See the full list of semblance synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of semblance?
The plural of semblance is semblances.