vel sim.

English

Etymology

Abbreviation of Latin vel similia (“or similar (things), or the like”). First attested in the 19th century; the appearance of the abbreviation in New Latin is roughly contemporary.

Phrase

vel sim.

1. (somewhat dated) Or the like; or similar.

Usage notes

• This is the disjunctive counterpart to conjunctive etc. in the same way that or pairs with and.

Related terms

• et sim.

References

• 2010, "Or other things" and comments thereon, Language Log
• “vel sim., phr.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.