Question

simulacrum As a boy he had filled his bedroom with model fighter jets, and these simulacra had kept his flying fantasies active for years. simulacrum*

Accepted Answer

A copy, especially a superficial likeness or imitation. In its original meaning, a simulacrum is simply a representation of something else; so an original oil painting, marble statue, or plastic figurine could all be simulacra (notice the plural form) in the old sense. But today the word usually means a copy that's meant to substitute for the real thing—and usually a cheap and inferior copy, a pale imitation of the original. So in old Persia a beautifully laid out garden was a simulacrum of paradise. Some countries' governments are mere simulacra of democracy, since the people in power always steal the elections by miscounting the votes. And a bad actor might do a simulacrum of grief on the stage that doesn't convince anyone.

word	simulacrum
definition	A copy, especially a superficial likeness or imitation.
eg_sentence	As a boy he had filled his bedroom with model fighter jets, and these simulacra had kept his flying fantasies active for years.
explanation	In its original meaning, a simulacrum is simply a representation of something else; so an original oil painting, marble statue, or plastic figurine could all be simulacra (notice the plural form) in the old sense. But today the word usually means a copy that's meant to substitute for the real thing—and usually a cheap and inferior copy, a pale imitation of the original. So in old Persia a beautifully laid out garden was a simulacrum of paradise. Some countries' governments are mere simulacra of democracy, since the people in power always steal the elections by miscounting the votes. And a bad actor might do a simulacrum of grief on the stage that doesn't convince anyone.
IPA	simulacrum*

Simulacrum Simulacra Copy Original Superficial Likeness Imitation Boy