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"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Chiasmus from Top AP English Exam Novels
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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:
The truth was that NeXT desperately needed the sales.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
"The avalanche of truth starts with snowflakes," he said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
She called out a truth that has been too long ignored and gave millions of women a chance to ask for help.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
Ludivine Daurignac, the organiser of the residents' group, told the news agency the residents plan to file complaints to get "truth, transparency, and justice" and claimed they were blocked from meeting with the prime minister.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
That’s the truth you need to come to terms with.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
"There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect," Trump wrote on his Truth Social network on Tuesday.
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
The defamation stemmed from a 2022 post on Truth Social in which he denied the claims and said Carroll was "not my type".
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
In a post on his Truth Social platform Monday, Trump said his “number one Goal” remained ensuring that Iran “cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
If he could, he would, and Truth Social would be involved somehow.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
On the other, there is Knowledge, which is Truth.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
One wonderfully executed sequence, in which Jonathan’s aunt calmly utters uncomfortable truths to the hypocritical and insensitive diners around her, is shocking and hilarious.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
She writes sweeping investigative and long-form narratives that uncover truths about the opaque global art market as well as reports on sales at auction houses including Sotheby’s and Christie’s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
It is the battle of living in this country to try to hold these two truths in one’s mind simultaneously.
From Slate ● Aug. 12, 2026
Because faced with those competing truths, Hochman could have used prosecutorial discretion — the art of tempering the law with the mores and ethics of the community.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
We both have truths that we’re hiding from practically everyone else, except each other.
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
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.
