What does similitude mean?
Similitude is a formal word meaning likeness, resemblance, or similarity, especially between two people or things that share noticeable qualities. It is more literary than the everyday word similarity and is often used when describing a close parallel between appearances, characters, styles, or circumstances. For example, a writer might note the similitude between two historical figures or the striking resemblance between two pieces of architecture. The word can also refer to a person or thing that closely resembles another, as when someone is described as the very similitude of a parent. Although uncommon in casual conversation, similitude remains useful in formal and descriptive writing because it gives a precise, slightly elevated tone to the concept of resemblance. It should not be confused with simile, which is a specific figure of speech comparing one thing with another.
nounA likeness or resemblance between two people or things; a similarity.
- Likeness or resemblance between two people or things.
- A person or thing that closely resembles another.
"The two composers' musical styles display a striking similitude despite their different backgrounds."
"There is a remarkable similitude between the two species despite the considerable distance between them."
"The youngest daughter was the very similitude of her mother, down to her expressions and mannerisms."
The plural is grammatically standard but uncommon because similitude is itself a relatively formal and infrequent noun.
"The novel identifies several similitudes between the fictional family and the author's own."
Similitude is the formal, literary name for the familiar observation that two things look or behave alike.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does similitude come from?
The word entered English through Middle French similitude, a borrowing of the Latin noun similitudo, meaning likeness or similarity. Latin similitudo was derived from similis, meaning like or similar, which also underlies English cognates such as simile and similar. The English form retains the formal character of its French and Latin ancestors and is now used chiefly in formal or literary contexts.
How similitude is actually used
Similitude is chiefly formal or literary and is less common in everyday speech than similarity or likeness. It often conveys a noticeable or close resemblance.
Easily confused with similitude
A similitude is a general resemblance between people or things, whereas a simile is a figure of speech that explicitly compares one thing with another.