semblance

/ˈsɛmblən(t)s/

//ˈsɛmblən(t)s// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"semblance" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“semblance” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #25,569 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#25,569
frequency rank, English
9
letters
15
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The outward appearance or form of a person or thing.

Key facts for semblance
PropertyValue
Headwordsemblance
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈsɛmblən(t)s/
Letters9
Frequency rank#25,569
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “semblance” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). semblance lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for semblance is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈsɛmblən(t)s/. Corpus data places it at rank #25,569 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 10 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for semblance, with forms such as "esmblance", "sebmlance", and "sembalnce". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English semblaunce (“outward appearance, form; appearance without reality; condition or fact of being apparent; symbolic image; facial expression, countenance; conduct, manner; image, likeness; analogy, comparison”), from Anglo-Norman semblaunce… The correct English form is semblance, spelled S-E-M-B-L-A-N-C-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The outward appearance or form of a person or thing.
  2. 2
    The outward appearance or form of a person or thing.
  3. 3
    The outward appearance or form of a person or thing.
  4. 4
    Followed by of: a person or thing that is seen; an apparition, a vision.
  5. 5
    Followed by of: a person or thing that looks similar to another person or thing; a likeness.
  6. 6
    Followed by of: a bare or mere appearance of something.
  7. 7
    A person's non-verbal behaviour or demeanour which shows their feelings, thoughts, etc., or which is faked to hide such true feelings, thoughts, etc.
  8. 8
    In the form make semblance: an act of appearing; an appearance, a manifestation; also, a false appearance, a pretence.
  9. 9
    The quality or state of being similar; likeness, resemblance, similarity.
  10. 10
    The chance of something happening; likelihood, probability.

Etymology

From Middle English semblaunce (“outward appearance, form; appearance without reality; condition or fact of being apparent; symbolic image; facial expression, countenance; conduct, manner; image, likeness; analogy, comparison”), from Anglo-Norman semblaunce and Old French semblance (modern French semblance), from semblant, the present participle of sembler (“to appear; to resemble, seem”), from Late Latin similāre, the present active infinitive of similō, a variant of Latin simulō (“to act or behave as if; to imitate, simulate”), from similis (“like resembling, similar to”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one; together”)) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs). By surface analysis, semble + -ance (suffix forming nouns denoting conditions or states).

This word in other languages

semblanza(Español)Anschein(Deutsch)semelhança(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: esmblance,sebmlance,sembalnce,sembblance,semblacne,semblancce,semblanec,semblannce,semblence,sembllance,semblnace,semlbance,semmblance,smeblance,ssemblance

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of semblance - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

esmblance2sebmlance2sembalnce2sembblance1semblacne2semblancce1semblanec2semblannce1
Edit distance from "semblance"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "semblance"?
"semblance" is spelled S-E-M-B-L-A-N-C-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsɛmblən(t)s/.
What does "semblance" mean?
As a noun, "semblance" means: The outward appearance or form of a person or thing.
What are common misspellings of "semblance"?
Common misspellings include "esmblance", "sebmlance", "sembalnce", "sembblance", "semblacne". The correct spelling is "semblance".
How do you pronounce "semblance"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "semblance" is /ˈsɛmblən(t)s/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "semblance"?
From Middle English semblaunce (“outward appearance, form; appearance without reality; condition or fact of being apparent; symbolic image; facial expression, countenance; conduct, manner; image, likeness; analogy, comparison”), from Anglo-Norman ... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “semblance”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is S-E-M-B-L-A-N-C-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈsɛmblən(t)s/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list