What does truthiness mean?
Truthiness is the quality of something seeming true or persuasive, even when its accuracy has not been established. The term is especially common in criticism of political rhetoric, advertising, journalism, and public discourse, where a claim may sound reasonable or appeal strongly to an audience’s beliefs without being supported by adequate evidence. A statement can therefore possess truthiness while remaining false, misleading, or unverifiable. The expression is also sometimes used more neutrally to describe the persuasive impression created by something that is actually true. It became especially prominent through American comedian and political commentator Stephen Colbert’s use of the word in the early 2000s. Although the expression can sound informal, it is useful because it identifies a specific kind of persuasive appeal: the impression of truth rather than truth itself.
nounThe quality of being true or seeming true, especially when a claim feels plausible or persuasive without being supported by sufficient evidence.
- The quality of a claim appearing true, plausible, or persuasive, especially without sufficient evidence to establish its truth.
"Political broadcasts often rely more on truthiness than on verifiable evidence."
"The advertisement had considerable truthiness, but none of its claims could be independently verified."
"Her explanation possessed a reassuring truthiness, which made the audience accept it without asking for proof."
The plural is uncommon and is used only when referring to distinct instances or varieties of persuasive truth.
"The exhibition explores the different truthinesses of photographs, advertisements, and political slogans."
Stephen Colbert popularized “truthiness” as the quality of statements that sound true without providing evidence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does truthiness come from?
Truthiness was formed in English by adding the suffix “-iness” to “truth,” a word inherited from Old English. Its modern sense of apparent rather than demonstrable truth became widely associated with Stephen Colbert, who used the term prominently in the early 2000s to describe political statements that sounded true without offering proof.
How truthiness is actually used
The modern sense is chiefly informal and often critical, particularly in political, journalistic, and cultural discussion. It can suggest that a statement appeals to intuition or shared assumptions rather than sound reasoning or demonstrable facts.
Easily confused with truthiness
Truthfulness means honesty or accuracy, whereas truthiness often means the persuasive appearance of truth regardless of whether a claim is accurate.