truth
noun
the true or actual state of a matter.
truth
1 American
[trooth]
/ truθ /
noun
-
truths
plural
-
the true or actual state of a matter.
He tried to find out the truth.
- Synonyms:
- fact
- Antonyms:
- falsehood
-
conformity with fact or reality; verity.
the truth of a statement.
- Synonyms:
- veracity
- Antonyms:
- falsity
-
a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like.
mathematical truths.
-
the state or character of being true.
- Antonyms:
- falsity
-
actuality or actual existence.
-
(often initial capital letter) ideal or fundamental reality apart from and transcending perceived experience.
the basic truths of life.
-
agreement with a standard or original.
-
accuracy, as of position or adjustment.
-
honesty; sincerity; truthfulness.
- Antonyms:
- falsity
-
Archaic. fidelity or constancy.
idioms
Truth
2
American
[trooth]
/ truθ /
noun
truth
British
/ truːθ /
noun
-
the quality of being true, genuine, actual, or factual
the truth of his statement was attested
-
something that is true as opposed to false
you did not tell me the truth
-
a proven or verified principle or statement; fact
the truths of astronomy
-
(usually plural) a system of concepts purporting to represent some aspect of the world
the truths of ancient religions
-
fidelity to a required standard or law
-
faithful reproduction or portrayal
the truth of a portrait
-
an obvious fact; truism; platitude
-
honesty, reliability, or veracity
the truth of her nature
-
accuracy, as in the setting, adjustment, or position of something, such as a mechanical instrument
-
the state or quality of being faithful; allegiance
truth
More Idioms
Usage
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.
- Used in a sentence: We doubted that there was any truth to his claims of seeing Bigfoot.
- Used in a sentence: Parents often have to tell their kids sad truths when a pet dies.
Commonly Confused
See truism.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of truth
First recorded before 900; Middle English treuthe, Old English trēowth (cognate with Old Norse tryggth “faith”); see true, -th 1
Explanation
Truth is something that squares with reality. When you are sworn in to give testimony in a U.S. court of law, you promise to "tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." When you're cutting to the heart of something, you might start a statement with, "The truth of the matter is..." or "To tell the truth..." When you hear these introductory phrases containing truth, reality is supposed to follow. The American comedian Stephen Colbert coined the term truthiness as a satirical poke at politicians and pundits whose claims often have no basis in reality. Truthiness is what you wish were truth — unconstrained by fact or logic.
Vocabulary lists containing truth
"Hanging Fire"
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Chiasmus from Top AP English Exam Novels
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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.
See Examples For:
In truth, “Treasure Island” is ripe for a remake of epic proportions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
In truth, when I took the last test in my possession, I was glad.
From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026
"The truth is out there, the evidence is there, we just need help putting it in front of the right people to get this justice for Toby that's needed," he said.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
And they recognize the fundamental truth in the critique.
From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2026
And then there is quiet between us, quiet and the heavy weight of the truth.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
“We are having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
They added they do not believe it is related to Truth and Reconciliation day, a national holiday that honours victims and survivors of Canada's residential schools, which sought to forcefully assimilate indigenous children.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
In a day-long rant on Truth Social, the president said the only “guardrails that AI needs is a strong and smart . . . president.”
From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026
And in a lengthy Truth Social post on 3 September, Trump claimed that the US had "virtually unlimited" amounts of ammunition and is "stockpiling and preparing for any contingency that could happen".
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
Truth does not care if it feels true or not.
From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi
Audiences have become accustomed to Mungiu pointing out uncomfortable truths.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
But if the best fiction can also be instructive, maybe the last moral of Kazan’s “East of Eden” can help us hold multiple truths at once.
From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026
We need a more human system, one that can hold two truths at once: Medication can help some people, and it can harm others.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026
Sheen’s love for both God and man helped Americans accept the hard truths he boldly proclaimed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
I did not want to hear the truths he shouted at me.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
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.
