Thetruth about something is all the facts about it, rather than things that are imagined or invented.
Is it possible to separate truth from fiction?
I must tell you the truth about this business. [+ about]
The truth of the matter is that we had no other choice. [+ of]
In the town very few know the whole truth.
...judgements of truth or falsity.
Synonyms: reality, fact(s), real life, actuality More Synonyms of truth
2. uncountable noun
If you say that there is some truthin a statement or story, you mean that it is true, or at least partly true.
There is no truth in this story. [+ in]
Is there any truth to the rumors? [+ to]
The criticisms have at least an element of truth and validity.
Synonyms: truthfulness, fact, accuracy, honesty More Synonyms of truth
3. countable noun
A truth is something that is believed to be true.
It is still a basic truth that many women have to work harder than men to get tothe same level.
Synonyms: honesty, principle, honour, virtue More Synonyms of truth
4. See also home truth, moment of truth
5.
See in truth
6.
See to tell you the truth
More Synonyms of truth
truth in British English
(truːθ)
noun
1.
the quality of being true, genuine, actual, or factual
the truth of his statement was attested
2.
something that is true as opposed to false
you did not tell me the truth
3.
a proven or verified principle or statement; fact
the truths of astronomy
4. (usually plural)
a system of concepts purporting to represent some aspect of the world
the truths of ancient religions
5.
fidelity to a required standard or law
6.
faithful reproduction or portrayal
the truth of a portrait
7.
an obvious fact; truism; platitude
8.
honesty, reliability, or veracity
the truth of her nature
9.
accuracy, as in the setting, adjustment, or position of something, such as a mechanical instrument
10.
the state or quality of being faithful; allegiance
▶ Related adjectives: , veritable, veracious
Derived forms
truthless (ˈtruthless)
adjective
Word origin
Old English triewth; related to Old High German gitriuwida fidelity, Old Norse tryggr true
Truth in American English
(truθ)
Soˌjourner (ˈsoʊˌdʒɜrnər) (orig. a slave called Isabella) 1797?-1883; U.S. abolitionist & women's-rights advocate
truth in American English
(truθ)
nounWord forms: pluraltruths (truðz; truθs)
1.
the quality or state of being true
; specif.,
a. Obsolete
loyalty; trustworthiness
b.
sincerity; genuineness; honesty
c.
the quality of being in accordance with experience, facts, or reality; conformity with fact
d.
reality; actual existence
e.
agreement with a standard, rule, etc.; correctness; accuracy
2.
that which is true; statement, etc. that accords with fact or reality
3.
an established or verified fact, principle, etc.
4.
a particular belief or teaching regarded by the speaker as the true one
often with the
Idioms:
in truth
of a truth
SYNONYMY NOTE: truth suggests conformity with the facts or with reality, either as an idealized abstraction[“What is truth?” said Pilate] or in actual application to statements, ideas, acts, etc. [there is no truth in that rumor]; veracity, as applied to persons or to their utterances, connotes habitual adherence to thetruth [I cannot doubt your veracity]; verity, as applied to things, connotes correspondence with fact or with reality [the verity of that thesis]; verisimilitude, as applied to literary or artistic representations, suggests a degree of plausibilitysufficient to induce audience belief [the characterizations in that novel lack verisimilitude]
OPPOSITES: falseness, falsity
Word origin
ME treuthe < OE treowth: see true & -th1
More idioms containing
truth
be economical with the truth
Examples of 'truth' in a sentence
truth
I'm not as adept as you and Tarja at twisting the truth to placate my honour, Lord Wolfblade.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
But my anger subsided, because I recognized the truth in what she'd said.
Stuart Harrison BETTER THAN THIS (2001)
Quotations
Truth sits upon the lips of dying menMatthew ArnoldSohrab and Rustum
Beauty and Truth, though never found, are worthy to be soughtRobert Williams BuchananTo David in Heaven
`Beauty is truth, truth beauty,' - that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know That is allJohn KeatsOde on a Grecian Urn
What is truth? said jesting Pilate; and would not stay for an answerFrancis BaconEssays
Truth can never be told so as to be understood, and not believedWilliam BlakeProverbs of Hell
Truth never hurts the tellerRobert BrowningFifine at the Fair
Truth is within ourselvesRobert BrowningParacelsus
'Tis strange - but true; for truth is always strange; Stranger than fictionLord ByronDon Juan
I maintain that Truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sectJiddu Krishnamurtispeech
It is the customary fate of new truths to begin as heresies and to end as superstitionsT.H. HuxleyScience and Culture
The first casualty when war comes is truthPhilander Chase JohnsonShooting Stars
There was things that he stretched, but mainly he told the truthMark TwainThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The truth is rarely pure, and never simpleOscar WildeThe Importance of Being Earnest
The truth is a terrible weapon of aggression. It is possible to lie, and even to murder, for the truthAlfred AdlerThe Problem of Neurosis
The truth which makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hearHerbert AgarA Time for Greatness
When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truthSir Arthur Conan DoyleThe Sign of Four
Truth...may bear all lights3rd Earl of ShaftesburySensus Communis
The truth shall make you freeBible: St. John
When you want to fool the world, tell the truthOtto von Bismarck
It is always the best policy to speak the truth, unless of course you are an exceptionally good liarJerome K. Jerome
Irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errorsT.H. HuxleyScience and Culture and Other Essays
Truth is the cry of all, but the game of the fewBishop George BerkeleySiris
A truth that's told with bad intent Beats all the lies you can inventWilliam BlakeAuguries of Innocence
Truth lies within a little and certain compass, but error is immenseHenry St. John, 1st Viscount BolingbrokeReflections upon Exile
There is truth in wine (in vino veritas)
In other languages
truth
British English: truth /truːθ/ NOUN
The truth about something is all the facts about it, rather than things that are imagined or invented.
We all want to know the truth about what happened to him.
American English: truth
Arabic: حَقِيقَة
Brazilian Portuguese: verdade
Chinese: 真理
Croatian: istina
Czech: pravda
Danish: sandhed
Dutch: waarheid
European Spanish: verdad
Finnish: totuus
French: vérité
German: Wahrheit
Greek: αλήθεια
Italian: verità
Japanese: 事実
Korean: 진실
Norwegian: sannhet
Polish: prawda
European Portuguese: verdade
Romanian: adevăr
Russian: истина
Latin American Spanish: verdad
Swedish: sanning
Thai: ความจริง
Turkish: gerçek doğruluk
Ukrainian: правда
Vietnamese: sự thật
All related terms of 'truth'
in truth
You say in truth in order to indicate that you are giving your honest opinion about something.
truth set
the set of values that satisfy an open sentence , equation , inequality , etc, having no unique solution
half-truth
If you describe statements as half-truths , you mean that they are only partly based on fact and are intended or likely to deceive people.
home truth
Home truths are unpleasant facts that you learn about yourself, usually from someone else.
post-truth
A post-truth situation is one in which people are less influenced by factual information than by their emotions or by beliefs they already hold.
truth claim
a hypothesis not yet verified by experience
truth drug
any of various drugs supposed to have the property of making people tell the truth , as by relaxing them
truth quark
→ top quark
truth table
a table , used in logic , indicating the truth-value of a compound statement for every truth-value of its component propositions
truth-value
either of the values, true or false , that may be taken by a statement
gospel truth
an unquestionably true statement, fact, etc
logical truth
the property of being logically tautologous
of a truth
certainly
truth-condition
the circumstances under which a statement is true
truth-function
a function that determines the truth-value of a complex sentence solely in terms of the truth-values of the component sentences without reference to their meaning
moment of truth
If you refer to a time or event as the moment of truth , you mean that it is an important time when you must make a decision quickly, and whatever you decide will have important consequences in the future .
Supreme Truth Cult
a syncretistic Japanese cult combining elements of Buddhism , Hinduism , and Christianity , founded by Shoko Asahara in 1986; responsible for a number of murders and in particular a nerve-gas attack on the Tokyo underground in 1995
the gospel truth
the unquestionable truth
truth-value gap
the possibility in certain semantic systems of a statement being neither true nor false while also not being determinately of any third truth-value , as all my children are asleep uttered by a childless person
to tell you the truth
You say to tell you the truth or truth to tell in order to indicate that you are telling someone something in an open and honest way , without trying to hide anything.
be economical with the truth
to deceive people by deliberately not telling them the whole truth about something. People use this expression when they want to suggest that someone is being dishonest , but do not actually want to accuse them of lying.
the fact of the matter/the truth of the matter
You use the fact of the matter is or the truth of the matter is to introduce a fact which supports what you are saying or which is not widely known , for example because it is a secret .
Chinese translation of 'truth'
truth
(truːθ)
Word forms:pltruths (truːðz)
n
(u) (= facts) 事实(實) (shìshí)
(u) (= truthfulness) 真实(實)性 (zhēnshíxìng)
(c) (= principle) 真理 (zhēnlǐ)
All related terms of 'truth'
a grain of truth
一点(點)真实(實)性 yīdiǎn zhēnshíxìng
to speak the truth
说(說)实(實)话(話) shuō shíhuà
not a shred of evidence/truth
无(無)丝(絲)毫证(證)据(據)/事实(實) wú sīháo zhèngjù/shìshí
gospel
[ c ] ( Rel ) 福音书(書) fúyīnshū
that has a ring of truth about it
那听(聽)上去是真的 nà tīng shàngqù shì zhēn de
the story contains an element of truth
这(這)个(個)故事有真实(實)的成分 zhège gùshi yǒu zhēnshí de chéngfèn
to distinguish between truth and fiction
分清事实(實)和虚(虛)构(構) fēnqīng shìshí hé xūgòu
1 (noun)
Definition
the quality of being true, genuine, or factual
Is it possible to separate truth from fiction?
Synonyms
reality
fact(s)
real life
Children use fantasy to explore worrying aspects of real life.
actuality
It exists in dreams rather than actuality.
Opposites
unreality
,
lie
,
legend
,
fiction
,
myth
,
invention
,
delusion
,
fabrication
,
make-believe
,
falsehood
,
untruth
,
old wives' tale
2 (noun)
Definition
the quality of being true, genuine, or factual
There is no truth in this story.
Synonyms
truthfulness
I can say, with absolute truthfulness, that I did not injure her.
fact
accuracy
The text cannot be guaranteed as to the accuracy of speakers' words.
honesty
Good communication encourages honesty in a relationship.
precision
The interior is planned with meticulous precision.
validity
legitimacy
authenticity
The film's authenticity of detail has impressed critics.
correctness
Please check the correctness of the details on this form.
sincerity
The film is made with sincerity.
verity
candour
veracity
We have total confidence in the veracity of our research.
rightness
genuineness
exactness
factuality
factualness
Opposites
error
,
inaccuracy
,
falsity
3 (noun)
Definition
a proven or verified fact, principle, etc.
It's a universal truth that we all die eventually.
Synonyms
fact
How much was fact and how much fancy no one knew.
law
inflexible moral laws
reality
Fiction and reality were increasingly blurred.
certainty
A general election became a certainty three weeks ago.
maxim
I believe in the maxim `if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.
verity
the undeniable verities of life
axiom
the long-held axiom that education leads to higher income
truism
the truism that nothing succeeds like success
proven principle
4 (noun)
Definition
something that is true
I must tell you the truth about this.
Synonyms
the fact of the matter
what really happened
gospel truth
God's truth
the honest truth
the case
5 (noun)
His mission is to uphold truth, justice and the American way.
Synonyms
honesty
It's time for complete honesty from political representatives.
principle
He would never compromise his principles.
They had great trust in him as a man of principle.
honour
I can no longer serve with honour as a member of your government.
virtue
His mother was held up to the family as a paragon of virtue.
integrity
I have always regarded him as a man of integrity.
goodness
He retains his faith in human goodness.
righteousness
adopting a tone of moral righteousness
candour
He spoke with disarming candour about his childhood.
frankness
probity (formal)
a woman renowned for her moral probity
rectitude
people of the utmost rectitude
incorruptibility
uprightness
a contest in which courage and uprightness win through
Opposites
deception
,
deceit
,
dishonesty
6 (noun)
Synonyms
loyalty
I have sworn an oath of loyalty to the monarchy.
faith
devotion
devotion to the cause
dedication
To be successful takes hard work and dedication.
fidelity
I had to promise fidelity to the Queen.
constancy
Even before they were married, she had worried about her partner's constancy.
faithfulness
We value faithfulness as the cornerstone of our relationship.
dutifulness
phrase
See in truth
related words
related adjectivesveritableveracious
Quotations
Truth sits upon the lips of dying men [Matthew Arnold – Sohrab and Rustum]Beauty and Truth, though never found, are worthy to be sought [Robert Williams Buchanan – To David in Heaven]`Beauty is truth, truth beauty,' - that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know That is all [John Keats – Ode on a Grecian Urn]What is truth? said jesting Pilate; and would not stay for an answer [Francis Bacon – Essays]Truth can never be told so as to be understood, and not believed [William Blake – Proverbs of Hell]Truth never hurts the teller [Robert Browning – Fifine at the Fair]Truth is within ourselves [Robert Browning – Paracelsus]'Tis strange - but true; for truth is always strange; Stranger than fiction [Lord Byron – Don Juan]I maintain that Truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect [Jiddu Krishnamurti – speech]It is the customary fate of new truths to begin as heresies and to end as superstitions [T.H. Huxley – Science and Culture]The first casualty when war comes is truth [Philander Chase Johnson – Shooting Stars]There was things that he stretched, but mainly he told the truth [Mark Twain – The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn]The truth is rarely pure, and never simple [Oscar Wilde – The Importance of Being Earnest]The truth is a terrible weapon of aggression. It is possible to lie, and even to murder, for the truth [Alfred Adler – The Problem of Neurosis]The truth which makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear [Herbert Agar – A Time for Greatness]When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth [Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – The Sign of Four]Truth...may bear all lights [3rd Earl of Shaftesbury – Sensus Communis]The truth shall make you free [Bible: St. John]When you want to fool the world, tell the truth [Otto von Bismarck]It is always the best policy to speak the truth, unless of course you are an exceptionally good liar [Jerome K. Jerome]Irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errors [T.H. Huxley – Science and Culture and Other Essays]Truth is the cry of all, but the game of the few [Bishop George Berkeley – Siris]A truth that's told with bad intent Beats all the lies you can invent [William Blake – Auguries of Innocence]Truth lies within a little and certain compass, but error is immense [Henry St. John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke – Reflections upon Exile]
proverb
There is truth in wine (in vino veritas)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accuracy
Definition
faithful representation of the truth
The text cannot be guaranteed as to the accuracy of speakers' words.
Synonyms
exactness,
precision,
fidelity,
authenticity,
correctness,
closeness,
truth,
verity,
nicety,
veracity,
faithfulness,
truthfulness,
niceness,
exactitude,
strictness,
meticulousness,
carefulness,
scrupulousness,
preciseness,
faultlessness,
accurateness
in the sense of actuality
Definition
reality
It exists in dreams rather than actuality.
Synonyms
reality,
truth,
substance,
verity,
materiality,
realness,
substantiality,
factuality,
corporeality
in the sense of authenticity
The film's authenticity of detail has impressed critics.
Synonyms
accuracy,
truth,
certainty,
validity,
reliability,
legitimacy,
verity,
actuality,
faithfulness,
truthfulness,
dependability,
trustworthiness,
authoritativeness,
factualness
Synonyms of 'truth'
truth
Explore 'truth' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of axiom
Definition
a generally accepted principle
the long-held axiom that education leads to higher income
Synonyms
principle,
fundamental,
maxim,
gnome,
adage,
postulate,
dictum,
precept,
aphorism,
truism,
apophthegm
in the sense of candour
Definition
honesty and straightforwardness of speech or behaviour
He spoke with disarming candour about his childhood.
Synonyms
honesty,
simplicity,
fairness,
sincerity,
impartiality,
frankness,
directness,
truthfulness,
outspokenness,
forthrightness,
straightforwardness,
ingenuousness,
artlessness,
guilelessness,
openness,
unequivocalness,
naïveté
in the sense of certainty
Definition
something established as inevitable
A general election became a certainty three weeks ago.
Synonyms
fact,
truth,
reality,
sure thing (informal),
surety,
banker
in the sense of constancy
Even before they were married, she had worried about her partner's constancy.
Synonyms
faithfulness,
loyalty,
devotion,
fidelity,
dependability,
trustworthiness,
steadfastness
in the sense of correctness
Please check the correctness of the details on this form.
Synonyms
truth,
accuracy,
precision,
exactitude,
exactness,
preciseness,
faultlessness
in the sense of dedication
Definition
wholehearted devotion
To be successful takes hard work and dedication.
Synonyms
commitment,
loyalty,
devotion,
allegiance,
adherence,
single-mindedness,
faithfulness,
wholeheartedness,
devotedness
in the sense of devotion
Definition
strong attachment to or affection for someone or something
devotion to the cause
Synonyms
dedication,
commitment,
loyalty,
allegiance,
fidelity,
adherence,
constancy,
faithfulness
in the sense of faithfulness
We value faithfulness as the cornerstone of our relationship.
Synonyms
loyalty,
devotion,
fidelity,
constancy,
dependability,
trustworthiness,
fealty,
adherence
in the sense of fidelity
Definition
loyalty to a person, belief, or cause
I had to promise fidelity to the Queen.
Synonyms
loyalty,
faith,
integrity,
devotion,
allegiance,
constancy,
faithfulness,
dependability,
trustworthiness,
troth (archaic),
fealty,
staunchness,
devotedness,
lealty (archaic),
true-heartedness
in the sense of goodness
Definition
the quality of being good
He retains his faith in human goodness.
Synonyms
virtue,
honour,
merit,
integrity,
morality,
honesty,
righteousness,
probity (formal),
rectitude,
uprightness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of honour
Definition
allegiance to moral principles
I can no longer serve with honour as a member of your government.
Synonyms
integrity,
principles,
morality,
honesty,
goodness,
fairness,
decency,
righteousness,
probity (formal),
rectitude,
trustworthiness,
uprightness
in the sense of incorruptibility
Synonyms
integrity,
honour,
honesty,
uprightness,
justness
in the sense of integrity
Definition
honesty
I have always regarded him as a man of integrity.
Synonyms
honesty,
principle,
honour,
virtue,
goodness,
morality,
purity,
righteousness,
probity (formal),
rectitude,
truthfulness,
trustworthiness,
incorruptibility,
uprightness,
scrupulousness,
reputability
in the sense of law
Definition
a general principle, formula, or rule in mathematics, science, or philosophy
inflexible moral laws
Synonyms
principle,
standard,
code,
formula,
criterion,
canon,
precept,
axiom,
kaupapa (New Zealand)
in the sense of maxim
Definition
a brief expression of a general truth, principle, or rule of conduct
I believe in the maxim `if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.
Synonyms
saying,
motto,
adage,
proverb,
rule,
saw (old-fashioned),
gnome,
dictum,
axiom,
aphorism,
byword,
apophthegm
in the sense of precision
Definition
the quality of being precise
The interior is planned with meticulous precision.
Synonyms
exactness,
care,
accuracy,
fidelity,
correctness,
rigour,
nicety,
particularity,
exactitude,
meticulousness,
definiteness,
dotting the i's and crossing the t's,
preciseness
in the sense of principle
Definition
a set of such moral rules
He would never compromise his principles.They had great trust in him as a man of principle.
Synonyms
morals,
standards,
ideals,
honour,
virtue,
ethics,
integrity,
conscience,
morality,
decency,
scruples,
probity (formal),
rectitude,
moral standards,
sense of duty,
moral law,
sense of honour,
uprightness,
kaupapa (New Zealand)
in the sense of probity
Definition
honesty
a woman renowned for her moral probity
Synonyms
integrity,
worth,
justice,
honour,
equity,
virtue,
goodness,
morality,
honesty,
fairness,
fidelity,
sincerity,
righteousness,
rectitude,
truthfulness,
trustworthiness,
uprightness
in the sense of real life
Children use fantasy to explore worrying aspects of real life.
Synonyms
reality,
actuality,
actual existence
in the sense of rectitude
Definition
moral or religious correctness
people of the utmost rectitude
Synonyms
morality,
principle,
honour,
virtue,
decency,
justice,
equity,
integrity,
goodness,
honesty,
correctness,
righteousness,
probity (formal),
incorruptibility,
scrupulousness,
uprightness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of righteousness
adopting a tone of moral righteousness
Synonyms
virtue,
justice,
honour,
equity,
integrity,
goodness,
morality,
honesty,
purity,
probity (formal),
rectitude,
faithfulness,
uprightness,
blamelessness,
ethicalness
in the sense of sincerity
The film is made with sincerity.
Synonyms
honesty,
truth,
candour,
frankness,
seriousness,
good faith,
probity (formal),
bona fides,
genuineness,
straightforwardness,
artlessness,
guilelessness,
wholeheartedness
in the sense of truism
Definition
a statement that is clearly true and well known
the truism that nothing succeeds like success
Synonyms
cliché,
commonplace,
platitude,
axiom,
bromide,
stock phrase,
trite saying
in the sense of uprightness
a contest in which courage and uprightness win through
Synonyms
honesty,
justice,
virtue,
integrity,
goodness,
fairness,
righteousness,
probity (formal),
rectitude,
faithfulness,
trustworthiness,
straightforwardness,
high-mindedness,
incorruptibility
in the sense of veracity
Definition
accuracy
We have total confidence in the veracity of our research.
Synonyms
accuracy,
truth,
credibility,
precision,
exactitude
in the sense of verity
Definition
a true statement or principle
the undeniable verities of life
Synonyms
fact,
truth,
reality,
gospel (truth),
certainty,
actuality,
naked truth
in the sense of virtue
Definition
moral goodness
His mother was held up to the family as a paragon of virtue.