What does truth mean?
Truth is the quality of saying or believing what corresponds to fact and reality. As a noun, it can refer to the general quality of being truthful, to an individual true statement, or to the actual state of a situation. The expression of truth is often associated with honesty, candour, and moral courage, although a true statement may still be unpleasant or politically inconvenient. In philosophical and religious contexts, truth can mean ultimate reality rather than merely factual accuracy. The word is usually uncountable in general usage, while truths is used for separate propositions or difficult insights. Truth has a long history in English: it developed from an Old English word for faithfulness and trustworthiness, linking the modern idea of factual accuracy with the older idea of being loyal and keeping faith. Its associations with authority, truthfulness, and disclosure make it especially prominent in journalism, law, ethics, and personal relationships.
nounTruth is the quality of being true, especially in accordance with fact or reality. It can also refer to a true statement, the actual state of affairs, or the practice of being honest and trustworthy.
- The quality of being true or in accordance with fact and reality.
- A statement, belief, or proposition that is true.
- Honesty, candour, or faithfulness in speech or conduct.
- The actual state of affairs, as in the need to face the truth.
- In philosophical or religious contexts, reality or ultimate reality considered as truth.
"She had the courage to tell the truth, even when it protected no one."
"The investigation uncovered evidence that challenged the official account of events."
"A moment of truth arrived when she was asked to explain what she had seen."
The usual plural is truths, used for separate true statements, beliefs, or revealing facts. For the general quality of being truthful, truth is normally uncountable.
"A novel can be valuable precisely because it tells uncomfortable truths."
The word behind truth, true, and troth is an old promise of loyalty: a truth was originally a matter of trustworthiness before it became a matter of fact.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does truth come from?
Truth comes from Old English trēowþ, a noun meaning “faithfulness, fidelity, trustworthiness,” and ultimately from a Proto-Germanic root associated with being true or loyal. The same root lies behind true, troth, and the now archaic trow, while related Germanic cognates include German treu and Dutch trouw. English initially emphasized trustworthiness and fidelity; the sense “accordance with fact or reality” developed as the word came to denote a true statement or the state of being accurate.
Related word forms
How truth is actually used
Truth is usually an abstract, uncountable noun when it refers generally to fidelity to fact or reality. The plural truths is appropriate for individual true propositions, especially revealing facts or uncomfortable conclusions. In philosophical and religious writing, the definite phrase the truth can also refer to reality or ultimate reality.