truism

[ troo-iz-uhm ]

noun

1. a self-evident, obvious truth.

   Synonyms: platitude, cliché

truism

/ ˈtruːɪzəm /

noun

1. an obvious truth; platitude

Confusables Note

Contrary to what some people believe, the word truism is not a more elegant word for truth. While the word truth can occasionally be used to refer to a “truism,” since truisms are often true, the reverse—the use of truism to mean “truth”—is unwise. Truism stands for a certain kind of truth—a cliché, a platitude, something so self-evident that it is hardly worth mentioning. One can use it to accuse another writer or speaker of saying something so obvious or evident and trite that pointing it out is pointless. To say that a statement is a truism when you intend to compliment it as truthful, factual, even provable, will merely serve to confuse those who know that calling something a truism is not praise, but a criticism or insult. Note, however, that truism is used in a technical sense in mathematics or philosophy for restating something that is already known from its terms or premises. Examples of such truisms include: “Men are not women” and “Since the circumference of a circle equals twice the radius multiplied by π (2π r ), it equals the diameter multiplied by π (π d ).”

Derived Forms

• truˈistic, adjective

Other Words From

• tru·istic tru·isti·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of truism¹

First recorded in 1700–10; true + -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of truism¹

C18: from true + -ism

Example Sentences

After upset World Series losses in 2019 and 2021, the Astros should know by now that every Fall Classic underdog has its day — a truism more accurate now than ever.

From FiveThirtyEight

Coaches use the line as a truism, and it often spreads to their players.

From FiveThirtyEight

If one of the truisms of connection is to meet people where they are, then Kennedy has it down.

From Time

Our analysis also found that a longtime truism in polling — that surveys using live callers are more accurate — is no longer true.

From FiveThirtyEight

This is a truism of life, but we can’t resist manufacturing false gods.

From Washington Post

The amendment states but a truism that all is retained which has not been surrendered.

From The Daily Beast

There is a truism bandied about that more people like to read about baseball than watch it.

From The Daily Beast

The religious basis of the fiercest opposition to same-sex marriage is a truism.

From The Daily Beast

Each of us gathered there had lived the truism of all wars: what can go wrong will go wrong.

From The Daily Beast

That old truism that hawks are the most capable of making peace carries a lot of weight in middle Israel.

From The Daily Beast

In other words, it is a truism, mere equation in terms, telling nothing whatever.

From Project Gutenberg

Nevertheless, it is a truism which men are none the worse of being reminded of now and then.

From Project Gutenberg

That the day may begin with calm and sunshine, yet end in clouds and tempest—or vice versa—is a truism which need not be enforced.

From Project Gutenberg

Somehow this statement, though a truism, did not seem to fit on to previous remarks.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a mere truism to remark that in every political question the main controversy is complicated by a number of side issues.

From Project Gutenberg