simulative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

sim•u•late /ˈsɪmyəˌleɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -lat•ed, -lat•ing. 

1. to create a model of:
   During the drill we will simulate emergency conditions.
2. to pretend to do or have;
   feign:
   to simulate illness.
3. to assume or have the appearance or characteristics of:
   simulated leather.

See -simil-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

sim•u•late  (v. sim′yə lāt′;adj. sim′yə lit, -lāt′), v., -lat•ed, -lat•ing, adj. 
v.t. 

1. to create a simulation, likeness, or model of (a situation, system, or the like):
   to simulate crisis conditions.
2. to make a pretense of;
   feign:
   to simulate knowledge.
3. to assume or have the appearance or characteristics of:
   He simulated the manners of the rich.

adj. 

4. [Archaic.] simulated.

• Latin simulātus (past participle of simulāre), equivalent. to simul- (variant of simil-, base of similis similar) + -ātus -ate¹
• late Middle English (adjective, adjectival) 1400–50

sim′u•la′tive, sim•u•la•to•ry  (sim′yə lə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē), adj.  sim′u•la′tive•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 2. pretend, counterfeit.
• 3. affect.