truth

¹

[trooth]

noun

plural

truths 

1. the true or actual state of a matter.

   He tried to find out the truth.

   Synonyms: fact
   Antonyms: falsehood

2. conformity with fact or reality; verity.

   the truth of a statement.

   Synonyms: veracity
   Antonyms: falsity

3. a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like.

   mathematical truths.

4. the state or character of being true.

   Antonyms: falsity

5. actuality or actual existence.

6. an obvious or accepted fact; truism; platitude.

7. (often initial capital letter),  ideal or fundamental reality apart from and transcending perceived experience.

   the basic truths of life.

8. agreement with a standard or original.

9. accuracy, as of position or adjustment.

   Synonyms: exactness, precision

10. honesty; sincerity; truthfulness.

    Synonyms: frankness, candor, openness
    Antonyms: falsity

11. Archaic.,  fidelity or constancy.

Truth

²

[trooth]

noun

1. Sojourner Isabella Van Wagener, 1797?–1883, U.S. abolitionist, orator, and women's-rights advocate, born into slavery.

truth

/ truːθ /

noun

1. the quality of being true, genuine, actual, or factual

   the truth of his statement was attested

2. something that is true as opposed to false

   you did not tell me the truth

3. a proven or verified principle or statement; fact

   the truths of astronomy

4. (usually plural) a system of concepts purporting to represent some aspect of the world

   the truths of ancient religions

5. fidelity to a required standard or law

6. faithful reproduction or portrayal

   the truth of a portrait

7. an obvious fact; truism; platitude

8. honesty, reliability, or veracity

   the truth of her nature

9. accuracy, as in the setting, adjustment, or position of something, such as a mechanical instrument

10. the state or quality of being faithful; allegiance

Confusables Note

See truism.

Other Word Forms

• truthless adjective
• truthlessness noun
• mistruth noun
• nontruth noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of truth¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English treuthe, Old English trēowth (cognate with Old Norse tryggth “faith”); true, -th ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of truth¹

Old English triewth ; related to Old High German gitriuwida fidelity, Old Norse tryggr true

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in truth, in reality; in fact; actually.

   In truth, moral decay hastened the decline of the Roman Empire.

More idioms and phrases containing truth

• gospel truth
• home truth
• moment of truth
• naked truth
• unvarnished truth

Example Sentences

“This trend is not encouraging for the pursuit of truth in advertising.”

From Los Angeles Times

Liniker’s path to this moment has been marked by cycles of reinvention that hold truth to her style and worldly vision as an artist and person.

From Los Angeles Times

“Lee, you know, he’s fighting for the truth. But at what cost are you going to keep fighting for and moving forward towards the truth? Who’s going to suffer from it?”

From Salon

Not as someone with a shred of sympathy, or as a dogged and scrupulous seeker of truth and justice.

From Los Angeles Times

The appeal, adds Dela Cruz, is furthermore a reaction to our digital age’s profound sense of disconnection and our difficulty distinguishing truth from fiction.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accuracy 
• authenticity 
• certainty 
• fact 
• legitimacy 
• principle 
• truthfulness www.thesaurus.com
• veracity 

When To Use

What is a basic definition of truth?

Truth means the actual state of a matter, an adherence to reality, or an indisputable fact. Truth has several other senses as a noun.The truth refers to the version of reality that we exist in. Putting it more simply, if you are “telling the truth,” you are describing the world as it actually is and not making things up or telling lies.

• Real-life examples: Police detectives try to discover the truth when investigating crimes so that they don’t arrest the wrong person. Criminals often hide or distort the truth so that they won’t get caught.



• Used in a sentence: I told my mom I passed the test, but the truth was that I failed it badly. 

In a related sense, truth can also mean an agreement with reality or facts.

• Used in a sentence: We doubted that there was any truth to his claims of seeing Bigfoot.

Truth can also mean a fact or a statement that nobody disagrees with.

• Used in a sentence: Parents often have to tell their kids sad truths when a pet dies.