noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˌsɪmjʊˈleɪkɹəm/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˌsɪmjəˈleɪkɹəm/
1
noun
Meaning 1
A physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
a simulacrum of a New York studio apartment
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A thing which has the appearance or form of another thing, but not its true qualities; a thing which simulates another thing; an imitation; a semblance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: simulant, simulation
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture)
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: semblance, gloss, color, colour
History
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin simulācrum (“image, likeness”), from simul(ā) + -crum (a variant of -culum, from Proto-Indo-European *-tlom, a suffix forming instrument nouns), from similis (“similar (to)”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one; together”).
Across languages
Translations
23 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
محاكاة
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Armenian:
սիմուլակր
(simulakr)
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Bulgarian:
образ
(obraz)
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Bulgarian:
подобие
(podobie)
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Catalan:
simulacre
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Finnish:
kuva
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Finnish:
malli
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
French:
simulacre
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
German:
Simulacrum
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
German:
Simulakrum
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Greek:
απείκασμα
(apeíkasma)
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Greek:
επίφαση
(epífasi)
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Italian:
simulacro
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Macedonian:
при́видност
(prívidnost)
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Macedonian:
сли́ка
(slíka)
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Macedonian:
при́вид
(prívid)
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Polish:
symulakrum
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Portuguese:
simulacro
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Romanian:
simulacru
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Serbo-Croatian:
симулакрум
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Spanish:
simulacro
— physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing
Finnish:
simulakrumi
— thing which has the appearance or form of another thing, but not its true qualities
Polish:
symulakrum
— thing which has the appearance or form of another thing, but not its true qualities
