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View synonyms for truth

truth

1

[ trooth ]

noun

, plural truths [troo, th, z, trooths].
  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. Synonyms: openness, frankness, candor

    Antonyms: falsity

  11. Archaic. fidelity or constancy.


Truth

2

[ trooth ]

noun

  1. So·journ·er [soh, -jur-ner, soh-, jur, -ner], 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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Confusables Note

See truism.
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Derived Forms

  • ˈtruthless, adjective
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Other Words From

  • truthless adjective
  • truthless·ness noun
  • mis·truth noun
  • non·truth noun
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of truth1

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

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More About Truth

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.

Where does truth come from?

The first records of truth come from before the 900s. It comes from the Old English noun trēowth and is related to the Old Norse tryggth, meaning “faith.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to truth?

What are some synonyms for truth?

What are some words that share a root or word element with truth

What are some words that often get used in discussing truth?

How is truth used in real life?

Truth is a very common word that means reality as it actually is or statements that describe reality correctly.

Try using truth!

Is truth used correctly in the following sentence?

It was hard for him to face the truth that his cooking was bad because he had fooled himself into thinking he was a master chef.

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.

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