truism

noun

tru·​ism ˈtrü-ˌi-zəm 

: an undoubted or self-evident truth

especially : one too obvious for mention

To understand the present, we need to know about the past—a truism that is all too often forgotten.

—Peter Stansky

truistic

trü-ˈi-stik 

adjective

Synonyms of truism

• cliché
• platitude
• commonplace
• proverb
• trope
• saying
• banality
• bromide

Examples of truism in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Wars cannot be fought on ideology alone – a truism that perhaps led to the firebrand former defense minister’s departure, after months of clashes and refusing to deal with the army top brass, as Zelensky describes it. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

But most politicians are pretty easily replaced, a truism that Moreno reinforced by going public. — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026

There’s a long-standing truism in the world of physical attacks that defenders need to succeed every time, but attackers need to succeed just once. — Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

There are, however, exceptions to this truism, which brings me to my brief personal list of best movie adaptations of great literature. — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

truism

noun

tru·​ism ˈtrü-ˌiz-əm 

: an obvious truth