truth

noun

ˈtrüth 

plural truths ˈtrüt͟hz 

ˈtrüths

1

a(1)

: the body of real things, events, and facts : actuality

(2)

: the state of being the case : fact

(3)

often capitalized : a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality

b

: a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true

truths of thermodynamics

c

: the body of true statements and propositions

2

a

: the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality

b

chiefly British : true sense 2

c

: fidelity to an original or to a standard

3

a

: sincerity in action, character, and utterance

b

archaic : fidelity, constancy

4

capitalized Christian Science : god

Phrases

in truth

: in accordance with fact : actually

Synonyms

• facticity
• factuality
• sooth
• trueness
• verity

Examples of truth in a Sentence

At some point you have to face the simple truth that we failed.

Their explanation was simpler but came closer to the truth.

The article explains the truth about global warming.

A reporter soon discovered the truth.

Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

Her story contains a grain of truth but also lots of exaggeration.

Recent Examples on the Web

Shults plays with the idea of who (or what) is the ultimate evil in this head-twister, which is ably abetted by a cast who rings every bit of truth from the scenario. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 26 Apr. 2024

After her mother died of pancreatic cancer in 2018, Fletcher's alters then started showing up in therapy – her mother's death gave her system permission to reveal truths about her childhood. —David Oliver, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024

That’s the kind of truth this album excavates and celebrates many times, and why this is some of Annie Clark’s most satisfyingly urgent music yet. —Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2024

Jokic isn’t anywhere near as bad a defender as his quote implies, even if there’s some truth to the notion that guarding on-ball is his weakness. —Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2024

Any lasting commentary or universal truth is probably more accident than intention. —The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024

Yet some colleagues privately said Berliner's critique carried some truth. —David Folkenflik, NPR, 17 Apr. 2024

Normalization serves an important purpose: to destigmatize and educate, to extract truth from the shadows and cast it in the light. —Maytal Eyal and Bridget Freihart, TIME, 17 Apr. 2024

Through the eyes of Godfrey (Riley Keough) and a local police officer (Lily Gladstone), the series takes us into the hidden world of the young girls accused of the murder — revealing startling truths about the unlikely killer. —Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English trewthe, from Old English trēowth fidelity; akin to Old English trēowe faithful — more at true entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Phrases Containing truth

• bend the truth
• half-truth
• home truth
• in truth
• moment of truth
• nothing could be farther from the truth
• nothing could be further from the truth
• stretch the truth
• the gospel truth
• the naked truth
• the truth
• the truth of the matter
• the whole truth
• to tell the truth
• to tell (you) the truth
• truth be told
• truth be told/known
• truth serum
• truth set
• truth table
• truth-value

Kids Definition

truth

noun

ˈtrüth 

plural truths ˈtrüt͟hz  ˈtrüths 

1

: the quality or state of being true

2

: a true or accepted statement

3

: the body of real events or facts

4

: agreement with fact or reality

Biographical Definition

Truth

biographical name

ˈtrüth 

Sojourner circa 1797–1883 American evangelist and reformer