plausible

The word “plausible” means seeming reasonable or believable, even if not proven true. In plain terms, sounding like it could reasonably be true.

“Plausible” is pronounced PLAW-zih-bl (/ˈplɑ.zɪ.bəl/ in IPA).

Here is “plausible” used in a sentence: “His explanation for being late sounded plausible.”

“Plausible” is an adjective.

The word “plausible” comes from Latin. From Latin plausibilis, "deserving applause," from plaudere, "to applaud" — the sense shifted over time from "praiseworthy" to simply "believable.".

“Plausible” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

Plausible means something seems reasonable or believable on its face, even without proof, while probable suggests a higher likelihood based on evidence or odds. A plausible explanation might still turn out to be wrong, whereas probable implies stronger supporting evidence.

Possible simply means something could happen or be true, without judging how likely or reasonable it seems, while plausible adds the sense that the explanation sounds credible and fits with what is already known or expected.

Yes, plausible is often used for excuses, stories, or deniability that sound convincing even if they are not necessarily true, as in "a plausible excuse" or "plausible deniability," where believability rather than proven fact is the point.