# plausible

/ˈpɫɔzəbəɫ/ (US) · /plˈɔːzəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/plausible
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. believable or reasonable

adjective · CEFR B2

describing an explanation or story that sounds like it could be true.

For teachers: seemingly or apparently valid, likely, or acceptable; conceivably true.

- The police thought his story was plausible because it matched the security footage.
- While the theory is certainly plausible, the research team requires more empirical data before they can confirm the results with absolute certainty.

### 2. persuasive but possibly deceptive

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describing someone who speaks well and sounds honest, but might be trying to trick you.

For teachers: superficially pleasing or persuasive; often used to describe a person or argument that sounds right but lacks depth or honesty.

- He was a plausible salesman, but I still didn't trust his promises.
- The candidate offered a plausible defense of his actions, yet critics remained wary of his tendency to omit crucial details from the narrative.

### 3. praiseworthy

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic

describing something that deserves to be clapped for or praised.

For teachers: worthy of being applauded or commended; ready for approval.

- The young scholar's efforts were deemed plausible by the elders of the village.
- In the seventeenth-century text, the author describes the general's conduct as plausible, meaning it was deserving of public praise.

## Examples

- The police thought his story sounded plausible.
- The scientist provided a plausible explanation for the sudden change in temperature.
- While the theory is theoretically sound, it lacks the empirical evidence required to be considered a truly plausible alternative to the current model.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.