truthiness

American  

[troo-thee-nis] / ˈtru θi nɪs /

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.

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truthiness British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of truthiness

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 wins yet again when it’s hard to tell the real from the fiction.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 16, 2022

Today we have entered the era of Truthiness 2.0.

From Salon • Dec. 22, 2015

But the only thing scarier than truthiness is the prospect of an elected Ministry of Truthiness.

From Slate • Apr. 22, 2014

Truthiness, the brief explained, is a characteristic of a statement made “from the gut” or because it “feels right” but “without regard to evidence or logic.”

From New York Times • Mar. 24, 2014

Truthiness haunts the "Lost" years like the smoke monster that inhabits John Locke.

From Washington Post • May 20, 2010