plausible
gb/plˈɔzəbəl/ us/plˈɔzəbəl/
B2
Anglais
~ 8700
Sens
0 sens
adjective
B2
property
1
seeming reasonable or likely true
seeming reasonable and likely to be true when you think about the facts
Schéma d’usage :
it is plausible that [clause]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes use "plausible" as a simple synonym for "possible." "Plausible" usually suggests not just that something could be true, but that it also sounds reasonable or likely when you think about the facts. Saying "It is plausible that pigs can fly" sounds odd, because while it is logically possible in a very abstract sense, it is not at all reasonable or likely.
Synonymes
credible (focuses on being believable, especially because it is logical or supported by evidence)
Antonymes
implausible (direct opposite; suggests something is hard to believe or very unlikely to be true)
Collocations
plausible explanation
|plausible reason
|plausible theory
|plausible scenario
|plausible excuse
|seem plausible
Thèmes
thinking
|science
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The most plausible explanation is that the data were entered incorrectly.
- It is entirely plausible that the company will announce more job cuts next year.
- Her story sounded plausible at first, but the dates did not match.
- Scientists are still looking for a plausible theory to explain these unusual results.
- He offered a plausible excuse for being late, so no one questioned him further.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Your plan is plausible, but we need more details.
- It is plausible that it will rain this evening.
- The teacher gave a plausible answer to the difficult question.
- Her idea sounded plausible, so we decided to try it.
- The police looked for the most plausible reason for the fire.
adjective
C1
property
2
seeming honest and convincing (person)
describes a person who sounds very honest and easy to believe, even if they may not tell the truth
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] is a plausible [speaker/liar/salesman]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may not realize this sense often has a slightly negative or cautious tone, suggesting that a person only seems honest and believable on the surface. In this meaning, "plausible" is not simple praise; it can hint that someone is good at hiding the truth.
Synonymes
persuasive (suggests strong ability to convince others; does not always include the hint of possible dishonesty that "plausible" can have in this sense)
Antonymes
unconvincing (describes someone who does not sound believable or persuasive)
Collocations
a plausible liar
|a plausible salesman
|plausible manner
|plausible voice
|plausible performance
Thèmes
people
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- He is such a plausible liar that even his close friends believe him.
- The salesman was smooth and plausible, but the offer was a scam.
- With his calm voice and plausible manner, he avoided further questions.
- She made a very plausible witness, despite the gaps in her memory.
- The actor gave a plausible performance as a caring doctor.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The man was a plausible speaker, and many people trusted him.
- She is a plausible liar, so be careful when you listen to her.
- The salesman sounded very plausible on the phone.
- His plausible voice made the story seem true.
- The thief was polite and plausible, so the old woman opened the door.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
plausible
API
GB/plˈɔzəbəl/
US/plˈɔzəbəl/
Syllabes et accentuation
plaus - ible (2 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (plaus)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: plausible
- Comparative: plausibler
- Superlative: plausiblest
Famille de mots
Forms
plausibler
adjective
plausiblest
adjective
Core family
plausibly
adverb C1
plausibility
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
implausible
adjective
implausibly
adverb
implausibility
noun
Expressions
plausible deniability
1/plˈɔzəbəl dɪnˌaɪəbˈɪlɪti/
fixed phrase
formal
ability to credibly deny involvement
a situation where a person or group can say they did not know about something bad, and this sounds believable because there is no clear proof that they did know
Exemples
- Officials designed the operation to give the president plausible deniability if it failed.
- The company used outside contractors, which provided plausible deniability when the scandal broke.
- They communicated through cut-outs to maintain plausible deniability about the illegal payments.