simulacrum

noun

sim·​u·​la·​crum ˌsim-yə-ˈla-krəm 

-ˈlā-

plural simulacra ˌsim-yə-ˈla-krə 

-ˈlā-

also simulacrums

1

: image, representation

a reasonable simulacrum of reality

—Martin Mayer

2

: an insubstantial form or semblance of something : trace

Did you know?

There is a similarity between simulacrum and simulate. Both words come from simulare, a Latin verb meaning "to copy, represent, or feign." Simulacrum is the name for an image or representation, and simulate means "to look, feel, or behave like something."

Examples of simulacrum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

All the actress can say for certain is that Mrs. Chen is a simulacrum of her own mother. —Josh Weiss, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

But contemporary techno, in its narrow focus on pummeling kicks and buzzsaw arpeggios, miles from the quirks and sensuality of ’80s Detroit, or the relentless focus of ’90s Berlin, looks almost like a simulacrum at best, or a parody at worst. —Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 11 Oct. 2024

This seems like a pretty good simulacrum of what my future viewport on Mars will look like. —David Pierce, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2024

The person targeted by the deepfake did not consent; neither did the masses of anonymous others whose bodies taught a computational model how to make a plausible simulacrum of nakedness. —Ben Tarnoff, The New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "image, representation," borrowed from Latin simulācrum "likeness, visual representation, image, statue, outward appearance of a person or thing (as in the imagination or a dream), phantom, sham appearance," from simulāre "to pretend, produce a fraudulent imitation of, imitate" + -crum, suffix of instruments (dissimilated from *-clum, going back to *-tlom) — more at simulate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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