plausible

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'plausible' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective used to describe something that is likely to be true or possible. Example sentence: His explanation for why he was late sounds plausible.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Opinion

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That sounds plausible.

The New York Times

"At a stroke, this would make the implied cuts for non-protected departments and welfare slightly more plausible (if still very severe), mark an 'end to austerity' by the middle of the parliament and soften (at the margins) the pressure on the Bank to keep monetary policy on the floor".

The Guardian

The IPCC said the most "plausible" explanation for the location of the gun was that Duggan "was in the process of throwing it to his right as he was shot".

The Guardian

But he is trading on the financial ignorance of most savers, who at best may pay more tax and end up poorer in later life, and at worst fall prey to all manner of tricksters and fraudsters promising double digit returns on plausible but fictitious investments.

The Guardian - Money

He urges Conservative high command to "smoke out" plausible candidates and get on with choosing one so that he or she can "at least have a fighting chance" when autumn comes.

The Guardian

Those who are ruling themselves out – a list that includes the retired army major Dan Jarvis – have cited wholly plausible personal reasons.

The Guardian - Opinion

The most plausible proposal is to strengthen the European commission and even create a special position to oversee national budgets and enforce penalties for those incapable of sticking to fiscal discipline.

The Guardian - Opinion

There's not enough research to be definitive, but there are plenty of plausible hypotheses.

The Guardian

One plausible reason as to why the Hazell case stalled in 1989 was the lack of trust between British military intelligence and their West German equivalent when Europe was still in the grip of the Cold War.

The Guardian

This was the chancellor at his most confident, and most plausible, offering just enough goodies to keep the punters happy, but not so many that he surrendered the high ground of prudential statesmanship.

The Guardian - Opinion

There was no "side" to Taylor, no fakery, her tales are plausible and engaging.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "plausible" when you want to describe something that appears to be true or reasonable at first glance, even if it might not be upon closer inspection. It's useful for assessing initial impressions and hypotheses.

Common error

Avoid using "plausible" when you mean "probable". "Plausible" means seemingly true, whereas "probable" means likely to occur or be true based on evidence. Something can be "plausible" without being particularly "probable".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "plausible" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that something appears to be true or believable. Ludwig AI shows this in examples like "a plausible explanation" or "plausible candidates".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Opinion

20%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Science

8%

Travel

2%

Books

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "plausible" functions as an adjective indicating apparent truth or believability. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and common occurrence, especially in news and media. When writing, remember that "plausible" suggests initial credibility, not proven certainty, and consider alternatives like "believable" or "credible" for nuanced meanings. Avoid confusing it with "probable", which implies a higher degree of likelihood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

believable

Focuses directly on the quality of inspiring belief.

credible

Emphasizes the quality of being convincing and trustworthy.

conceivable

Indicates something is within the realm of possibility.

reasonable

Highlights the logical and rational aspect of something.

tenable

Suggests a position or argument that can be defended or maintained.

likely

Indicates a high probability of being true or happening.

persuasive

Emphasizes the ability to convince someone of something.

ostensible

Focuses on an appearance of truth or validity, which may not be genuine.

within the bounds of possibility

Expresses that something is possible even if not probable.

apparently true

Indicates a seeming truth, without confirmed certainty.

FAQs

How can I use "plausible" in a sentence?

Use "plausible" to describe something that appears believable or likely. For example, "His explanation for the missing money seemed "plausible", but the detective remained skeptical."

What are some alternatives to using the word "plausible"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "believable", "credible", or "reasonable". Each of these words emphasizes a slightly different aspect of being convincing or likely.

Is there a difference between "plausible" and "possible"?

"Plausible" suggests something has an appearance of truth or reason, while "possible" simply means something can occur or exist. A scenario might be possible but not "plausible" if it lacks a convincing basis.

When is it not appropriate to use "plausible"?

Avoid using "plausible" when describing something definitively proven to be true or false. "Plausible" is best used when assessing initial impressions or hypotheses that require further investigation. If something is known to be true, words like "certain" or "confirmed" are more appropriate.