truthiness

[ troo-thee-nis ]

noun

1. the quality of seeming to be true according to one's intuition, opinion, or perception without regard to logic, factual evidence, or the like:

   the growing trend of truthiness as opposed to truth.

2. Rare. truthfulness or faithfulness.

truthiness

/ ˈtruːθɪˌnəs /

noun

1. informal.
   (of a belief, etc) the quality of being considered to be true because of what the believer wishes or feels, regardless of the facts

Word History and Origins

Origin of truthiness¹

First recorded in 1820–30; truthiness def 1 was coined in 2005 by Stephen Colbert (1964– ), U.S. comedian and TV host; truth + -y ¹ + -ness

Example Sentences

Truthiness is as truthiness does, and clearly: Acolyte Oren does truthiness very, very well.

From The Daily Beast

Truth, truthiness, in this mass media cacophony we live in, comes up something for grabs.

From The Daily Beast

And by consumer and supplier agreement, no fact, factoid, or truthiness is too small to register.

From The Daily Beast

Rachel B.: Expose truthiness wherever it may be found in the statements of the candidates and the super-PACs.

From The Daily Beast

Are we so in thrall to "truthiness" that we need our exorcist movies to be dressed up with the patina of realness, as well?

From The Daily Beast