veritable
adjective
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
Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
And after that, the pizza itself, followed by Caribbean sticky ribs ($22), a veritable heap of ’em, gooey with a glaze of guava and Calabrian chili, served with killer onion rings and a side of jalapeno ranch.
—Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2025
The 1954 ranch house was a veritable museum of Rat Pack era décor, filled with fluffy, sparkly and fruit colored furnishings.
—Julie Lasky, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Harry Milas is a veritable magician with a metaphor.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for veritable
Cite this Entry
“Veritable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/veritable. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share