The Merriam-Webster Word of the Day is simulacrum. Read on for what it means, how it’s used, and more.

What It Means

A simulacrum is a superficial likeness or representation of something.

// The wax figure is a perfect simulacrum of the president.

SIMULACRUM in Context

“Bracelets, brooches, collars, and rings drip with diamonds in a simulacrum of a starry night—the galaxy rendered in platinum and gold.” — Camille Okhio, Elle Decor, 2 Mar. 2022

Did You Know?

There is a similarity between simulacrum and simulate. Both words come from simulare, a Latin verb meaning “to copy, represent, or feign.” Simulacrum is the name for an image or representation, and simulate means “to look, feel, or behave like something.”