What does plausibility mean?
Plausibility is the quality of being believable, reasonable, or consistent with available evidence. A statement, explanation, or theory can be plausible even when it has not been proved true: the word indicates that it deserves consideration and is not contradicted by what is known. People often discuss the plausibility of an account by asking whether its details fit together and whether it could explain the evidence. The term is especially common in formal and analytical contexts, including discussions of law, science, history, politics, and arguments. Plausibility should not be confused with probability. A probability assigns a numerical or otherwise systematic likelihood, while plausibility focuses more generally on whether something is credible or reasonable. The distinction matters because an idea can be plausible without being likely, and a possibility can lack a coherent explanation altogether.
nounThe quality of a statement, explanation, or account being reasonable, believable, and consistent with what is known. It can also refer to the likelihood that a proposed interpretation or account could be true.
- The quality of being believable or reasonable, especially as a quality of a statement, explanation, theory, or account.
"The discovery raised questions about the plausibility of the witness's account."
"The new evidence lends credibility and plausibility to the theory."
"Although the proposal lacks detailed planning, its basic plausibility cannot be dismissed."
The plural is used when referring to several accounts, explanations, theories, or interpretations that may each be plausible.
"The panel compared several plausibilities before selecting the most convincing account."
From Latin for “believable,” plausibility is the word we use when an explanation is not yet proven, but still deserves serious consideration.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does plausibility come from?
The English word plausibility came through French plausibilité, ultimately from Latin plausibilitas, a noun associated with plausibilis, meaning believable or plausible. Latin plausibilis is connected with plausus, meaning believed or approved, and with placere, meaning to please. The English noun became established in the early modern period as a term for the quality of being credible or reasonable. Its related forms include plausible, implausible, and plausibly.
Related word forms
How plausibility is actually used
This is a formal, abstract noun commonly used in discussion of evidence, explanations, arguments, and hypothetical scenarios. It describes whether something is reasonable or believable, not merely whether it is possible.
Easily confused with plausibility
Plausibility concerns whether an explanation or account is reasonable and believable, whereas possibility concerns whether something can happen or be true.