resemblance

noun

re·​sem·​blance ri-ˈzem-blən(t)s How to pronounce resemblance (audio)
1
a
: the quality or state of resembling
especially : correspondence in appearance or superficial qualities
b
: a point of likeness : similarity
2
3
archaic : characteristic appearance
4
obsolete : probability
Choose the Right Synonym for resemblance

likeness, similarity, resemblance, similitude, analogy mean agreement or correspondence in details.

likeness implies a closer correspondence than similarity which often implies that things are merely somewhat alike.

a remarkable likeness to his late father
some similarity between the two cases

resemblance implies similarity chiefly in appearance or external qualities.

statements that bear little resemblance to the truth

similitude applies chiefly to correspondence between abstractions.

two schools of social thought showing points of similitude

analogy implies likeness or parallelism in relations rather than in appearance or qualities.

pointed out analogies to past wars

Examples of resemblance in a Sentence

He doesn't look exactly like his father, but there is some resemblance. There is no resemblance between her and her sister.
Recent Examples on the Web As Fortune previously detailed, the dynamic that banks are currently experiencing bears an uncanny resemblance to the savings and loan (S&L) crisis of the 1980s and early ’90s. Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024 The Universal Pictures action-comedy stars Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt and Hannah Waddingham in a romantic comedy romp that bears no resemblance to the drama series that aired on ABC from 1981 to 1986. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 By book two, The Likeness, he’s been assigned a desk job for breach of duty; instead, his partner, Cassie Maddox, is sent undercover to learn who killed a young girl who bears an uncanny resemblance to her. Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024 Again, this is purely speculation, but Gibbons — or anyone else who recognized the resemblance between Ptah and the Academy Award statuette — might thereby have arrived at such a nickname. Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 And then there's butter chicken's near mirror-image resemblance to one of Britain's national dishes: Chicken tikka masala, basically a hot-roasted bird in a tomato-butter sauce. Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 1 Mar. 2024 There could be a special power in this resemblance. Rhonda Garelick, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Bearing a striking resemblance to Efron, the toy stands at 6.5 inches tall and wears tiny yellow briefs, with a removable blue and yellow jacket. Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 13 Feb. 2024 The contents of the novel, meanwhile, bear little resemblance to the movie in theatres now. Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'resemblance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English resemblaunce, rassemblaunce "likeness, similarity, appearance, image," borrowed from Anglo-French resemblaunce "outward appearance, likeness, similarity," from resembler "to be like, resemble" + -aunce -ance

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of resemblance was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near resemblance

Cite this Entry

“Resemblance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resemblance. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

resemblance

noun
re·​sem·​blance ri-ˈzem-blən(t)s How to pronounce resemblance (audio)
1
a
: the quality or state of resembling : similarity
b
: a point of likeness
2

More from Merriam-Webster on resemblance

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