veritable

adjective

ver·i·ta·ble ˈver-ə-tə-bəl

Synonyms of veritable

: 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

veritably

ˈver-ə-tə-blē

adverb

Did you know?

Veritable, like its close relative verity ("truth"), came to English through Anglo-French from Latin. It is ultimately derived from verus, the Latin word for "true," which also gave us 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 in a humorous tone ("a veritable swarm of lawyers"). In the past, usage commentators have objected to the latter use, but today it doesn't draw much criticism.

Examples of veritable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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The stock market of late has been on a veritable roller coaster, Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency continues to ruffle feathers, Iran marches ever harrowingly closer to a nuclear weapon, and Russia and Ukraine get tantalizingly close to a ceasefire. —Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025 Bulla gave a veritable master class in bluegrass and Texas-style fiddling, as his Trio performed works ranging from bluegrass legends Bill Monroe and Kenny Baker to Lyle Lovett and Cole Porter. —Del Mar Foundation, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025 And for convenience and comfort alike, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort adjoins the course and is the veritable lap of luxury. Passport: Explore the finest destinations and experiences around the world in the Forbes Passport newsletter. —David Weiss, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025 But Beloved — a veritable cinematic masterpiece — flopped. —Armond White, National Review, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for veritable

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "reliable, honest, true, factual," borrowed from Anglo-French (continental Old French, "real, true"), from verité "truth, verity" + -able -able

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of veritable was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century