veracity
Americannoun
-
habitual observance of truth in speech or statement; truthfulness.
He was not noted for his veracity.
- Synonyms:
- credibility, integrity, honesty
-
conformity to truth or fact; accuracy.
to question the veracity of his account.
-
correctness or accuracy, as of the senses or of a scientific instrument.
-
something veracious; a truth.
noun
-
truthfulness or honesty, esp when consistent or habitual
-
precision; accuracy
-
something true; a truth
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of veracity
First recorded in 1615–25; from Medieval Latin vērācitās, from Latin vērāc-, stem of vērāx “true” + -itās -ity
Explanation
Veracity sounds like some kind of disease you don't want to catch, but in fact, it means truthfulness. If you question the veracity of a statement or story, you wonder whether it is truthful or accurate. Veracity is linked to the adjective veracious or "truthful." But don't confuse veracious with voracious. A voracious person eats very large amounts of food. If you were veracious, or "truthful," you'd tell them they look fat.
Vocabulary lists containing veracity
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "V"
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Poe's Favorite Words, collected by Charles Harrington Elster
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rev Adrian McCartney was among those who helped report the initial serious allegation, which was ultimately found to have no veracity, made by the vulnerable woman.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
Ross has been entrusted to judge others’ veracity, yet her own candor is in question.
From Slate • Jun. 8, 2026
In 2023, Donner filed a lawsuit in a Washington, D.C., court that contended his dismissal was linked to several instances in which he challenged the veracity of the network’s coverage.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026
Being bold with predictions is fine, but so is being skeptical of their veracity.
From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026
Participants read assertions whose veracity was either affirmed or denied by the subsequent presentation of an assessment word.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
