actuality

noun

ac·​tu·​al·​i·​ty ˌak-chə-ˈwa-lə-tē 

ˌak-shə-

plural actualities

1

: the quality or state of being actual

2

: something that is actual : fact, reality

possible risks which have been seized upon as actualities

—T. S. Eliot

Phrases

in actuality

: in actual fact

Synonyms

• existence

Examples of actuality in a Sentence

The actuality was quite different from the theory.

the actuality of the Abominable Snowman is not taken seriously by scientists

Recent Examples on the Web

The free agency period officially opened at 5 p.m. CDT Monday but in actuality was rolling long before that. —Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025

Realism is important for many F1 romance readers — books that say F1 in name but don’t include the actualities of the sport can have far lower ratings on review sites like Goodreads or StoryGraph. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2025

In actuality, however, summer's midpoint — that moment that comes exactly between the summer solstice and the autumnal equinox in 2024 — will not occur until Aug. 6 at 6:30 p.m. EDT. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 19 June 2025

Marquee dimmings have, traditionally, been announced by the Broadway League – the trade organization of theater owners and producers – but in actuality the dimming decisions had always been determined by a committee of Broadway theater owners. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 5 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English actualite "capacity for action, effective power," borrowed from Medieval Latin āctuālitāt-, āctuālitās, from Late Latin āctuālis actual + Latin -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for actuality

• angiography
• laryngoscopy
• ostracod
• predominately
• sensuality
• stochastically
• abc
• absentee
• addressee
• adoptee
• agouti
• allottee