veritable
adjective
ver·i·ta·ble
ˈver-ə-tə-bəl 
: being in fact the thing named and not false, unreal, or imaginary
—often used to stress the aptness of a metaphor
a veritable mountain of references
veritableness
noun
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Veritable, like its close relative verity (“truth”), came to English through Anglo-French from Latin. Its ultimate source is the adjective vērus, meaning “true,” which also gave English verify, aver, and verdict. Veritable is often used as a synonym of genuine or authentic (“a veritable masterpiece”), but it is also frequently used to stress the aptness of a metaphor, often with a humorous tone (“a veritable swarm of lawyers”). In the past, language commentators objected to the latter use, but today it doesn’t draw much criticism.
Examples of veritable in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This remarkable region is a veritable oasis left untouched when glaciers flattened much of the area about 12,000 years ago.
—
Kelsey Yandura, Midwest Living, 17 June 2026
Season 6's roster of guest stars is a veritable who’s-who of talent that includes rising stars, two former Doctor Whos, an Oscar winner, and a Spice Girl.
—Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
The list is a veritable who’s-who in golf, and winning in Cromwell has become a priority since the event was ordained with Signature Event status in 2024.
—Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 16 June 2026
Plant Densely Plants are placed closely together and clustered in waves in naturalistic gardens to create a veritable sea of textures, color, and shapes, as in this landscape at the Olbrich Botanical Garden in Madison, Wisconsin, by garden designer Jeff Epping.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 June 2026
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Kelsey Yandura, Midwest Living, 17 June 2026
Season 6's roster of guest stars is a veritable who’s-who of talent that includes rising stars, two former Doctor Whos, an Oscar winner, and a Spice Girl.
—Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
The list is a veritable who’s-who in golf, and winning in Cromwell has become a priority since the event was ordained with Signature Event status in 2024.
—Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 16 June 2026
Plant Densely Plants are placed closely together and clustered in waves in naturalistic gardens to create a veritable sea of textures, color, and shapes, as in this landscape at the Olbrich Botanical Garden in Madison, Wisconsin, by garden designer Jeff Epping.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for veritable
Cite this Entry
“Veritable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/veritable. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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