veritable
adjective
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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
Jonathan J. Cooper, Twin Cities, 22 Sep. 2025
The Eagles have won one league title over the past six seasons, a veritable drought for a club that claimed five in the previous six campaigns.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Having made more than 80 onscreen appearances, the home is now a veritable Hollywood icon and has been featured Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Day of the Locust, and Blade Runner, among others.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 17 Sep. 2025
Located about 25 miles south of Fort Myers, this family-friendly, 33-square-mile barrier island is famous for its collection of shells—especially scallop, clam, and tulip varieties—and sand dollars, forming a veritable treasure trove for collectors.
—Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 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 26 Sep. 2025.
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