truism

noun

tru·​ism ˈtrü-ˌi-zəm 

: an undoubted or self-evident truth

especially : one too obvious for mention

truistic

trü-ˈi-stik 

adjective

Synonyms

• banality
• bromide
• chestnut
• cliché
• cliche
• commonplace
• groaner
• homily
• platitude
• shibboleth
• trope

Examples of truism in a Sentence

ended his letter with the overused truism, “You can't win them all!”

Recent Examples on the Web

All the players corroborate a truism: Politics attracts deformed personalities featuring an insatiable lust of power for the sake of power to fuel self-esteem. —Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025

Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza’s Warfare is an admirable attempt to counter the truism that there’s no such thing as an anti-war movie — that all war movies, however gruesome or wrenching, effectively (and often unwittingly) wind up glamorizing combat to some degree. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025

All that audiences at the Palace Theatre get is a picture of steak knives on the preshow curtain, then a picture of a Cadillac at intermission and then the text of the truism itself. —Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2025

These truisms posit that, for example, all human beings are inherently good. —Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

truism

noun

tru·​ism ˈtrü-ˌiz-əm 

: an obvious truth