Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

simulacrum


Listen Later

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 9, 2025 is:

simulacrum • \sim-yuh-LAK-rum\  • noun

A simulacrum is a superficial likeness of something, usually as an imitation, copy, or representation. The plural of simulacrum is either simulacrums or simulacra.

// The surprise still succeeded, thanks to the simulacrum of confusion expressed by two guests when they were spotted before the big moment.

See the entry >

Examples:

"Under the lid, there are no strings to move the air, but rather speakers that create an uncanny simulacrum of a grand piano." — Robert Ross, Robb Report, 17 July 2024

Did you know?

There is more than a crumb of similarity between simulacrum and simulate: both words come from simulāre, a Latin verb meaning "to pretend, produce a fraudulent imitation of, imitate." At the root of simulāre is the Latin adjective similis, which means "having characteristics in common." Many "similar" words trace back to similis, hence the resemblance between simulacrum and familiar terms like simultaneous, simile, and of course similarity.



...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Merriam-Webster's Word of the DayBy Merriam-Webster

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

1,229 ratings


More shows like Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

91,051 Listeners

Modern Love by The New York Times

Modern Love

8,861 Listeners

TED Radio Hour by NPR

TED Radio Hour

22,010 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,519 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,624 Listeners

TED Talks Daily by TED

TED Talks Daily

11,184 Listeners

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by QuickAndDirtyTips.com

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

2,838 Listeners

Science Quickly by Scientific American

Science Quickly

1,381 Listeners

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over by Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett. Produced by Stefanie Levine.

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

2,289 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

16,214 Listeners

Life Kit by NPR

Life Kit

4,379 Listeners

Short Wave by NPR

Short Wave

6,372 Listeners

No Stupid Questions by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

No Stupid Questions

3,658 Listeners

Word Matters by Merriam-Webster, New England Public Media

Word Matters

485 Listeners

How to Be a Better Human by TED

How to Be a Better Human

1,389 Listeners