Believability: meaning, definitions and examples

Refers to the degree to which something can be accepted as true or real. It is often used in assessing the overall perception of trustworthiness in narratives, stories, or character portrayals.

• The believability of the plot was crucial for the movie's success.
• Her acting added a lot of believability to the character.

Relates to the trustworthiness or reliability of a source, person, or piece of information. This term is commonly used in journalism, legal settings, and personal references.

• The journalist's credibility was questioned after the article contained false information.
• Her long experience in the field gives her opinions extra credibility.

Denotes the likelihood or reasonableness of something. It is often used to evaluate theories, arguments, or explanations.

• The scientist provided a detailed argument to support the plausibility of his hypothesis.
• The story had elements that strained plausibility, making it less convincing.

Focuses on the genuineness and originality of something. It is often used when discussing cultural artefacts, documents, and personal behavior.

• The museum took extra steps to verify the authenticity of the ancient manuscript.
• People appreciate his authenticity; he always stays true to himself.

Appropriate for expressing how convincing or plausible something seems, often used in storytelling, media, and information evaluation.

• The believability of the characters made the movie much more enjoyable
• Her account of the events lacked believability due to inconsistencies

Refers to the consistency and dependability of something, often used in contexts such as performance, products, and studies.

• The reliability of the new software was tested thoroughly before release
• You can count on the reliability of this car for long trips

Often used in the context of arguments, studies, or tests to describe whether something is logically sound and accurate.

• The validity of the experiment's results was confirmed through peer review
• It's important to verify the validity of the data before drawing conclusions

Describes how worthy of trust someone or something is, generally used in interpersonal relationships or character assessments.

• Her trustworthiness made her the best choice for the job
• Building trustworthiness takes time but can be ruined in an instant