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You may have heard someone using the term suspension of disbelief during an English conversation, but what is the meaning behind this saying? We are going to find out what the term means as well as looking at some examples of how it can be used in day to day speech. We will also be looking at where the saying came from in the first instance.
“Suspension of Disbelief” Meaning, Origin and Usage
Key Takeaways
- “Suspension of disbelief” refers to the willingness of a person to temporarily set aside their skepticism or critical thinking in order to enjoy a fictional story or accept something that is unrealistic or improbable.
“Suspension of Disbelief” Meaning
The phrase “suspension of disbelief” refers to the temporary acceptance of something as real or true, even if it is improbable or fantastical, in order to enjoy a work of fiction. This concept encourages audiences to set aside their skepticism and embrace the narrative, allowing them to engage with the story, characters, or artistic elements fully.
Examples:
- “In order to enjoy the movie, you have to practice a little suspension of disbelief; the plot is quite far-fetched.”
- “The fantasy novel relies on the reader’s suspension of disbelief to accept its magical elements.”
- In a movie review:
- Talking about a fantasy novel:
- In a casual conversation about a TV show:
- Referring to a play:
- Willing suspension of disbelief – a slight variation emphasizing the voluntary aspect of the concept.
- Immersion – the state of being deeply engaged or involved in a narrative or experience.
- Fantasy – a genre that often requires suspension of disbelief due to its imaginative elements.
- Fiction – literature or storytelling that presents invented or imagined events.
- Creative license – the freedom to create without strict adherence to reality or fact.
- Make-believe – engaging in imaginative play or storytelling where reality is temporarily set aside.
- Illusion – a false impression or perception, often used in theatrical contexts.
- Pretend – to act as if something is true when it is not, often used in children’s play.
- Verisimilitude – the appearance of being true or real in a narrative.
- Believability – the quality of a story or character that makes it credible or plausible.
- Acceptance of unbelievable events
- Sacrifice logic
- You may not believe what you see at first sight but you will certainly have a suspension of disbelief once you see the footage we have recorded.
- I always thought that unicorns were not real but reading the book The Unicorn, I had a suspension of disbelief.
- Person 1: “That was amazing, it really got me thinking.”
- Person 2: “Me too, I had a real suspension of disbelief hearing those stories.”
- Person 1: “Mom, I never really believed in ghosts until we lived here.”
- Person 2: “Nor did I.”
- Person 1: “It has created a true suspension of disbelief.”
Origin of the phrase
The phrase “suspension of disbelief” was popularized by British poet and critic Samuel Taylor Coleridge in his 1817 work “Biographia Literaria.” Coleridge suggested that readers should temporarily set aside their skepticism to engage fully with imaginative works, particularly poetry and fiction.
Usage of “Suspension of Disbelief”
“The film’s plot is so far-fetched that it requires a real suspension of disbelief to enjoy it, but the special effects are worth it.”
“Reading fantasy requires a suspension of disbelief, especially when dragons and magic are involved.”
“Sure, time travel isn’t realistic, but if you have a good suspension of disbelief, the show becomes really enjoyable.”
“The stage design was minimal, but the actors’ performances helped with the audience’s suspension of disbelief.”
Related Terms to “Suspension of Disbelief”
Other Ways to Say “Suspension of Disbelief”
There may be other ways in which you can say the term suspension of disbelief, Let’s now take a look at some examples of how you might do this.
“Suspension of Disbelief” Examples
Examples in Statements
There may be many sentences in which the term suspension of disbelief might appear. We are now going to look at some examples of this.
The first statement is being made by a TV show which supports the idea of ghost hunting.
The second statement is one being made in a diary.
Conversation Examples
We are now going to take a look at some examples of conversations in which the term suspension of disbelief may be seen.
The first conversation is happening between two friends after watching a play about aliens.
The second conversation is taking place between a mother and son who live in a haunted house.
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