WordGarden.ioveracity
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /vərˈæsɪti/
US
- /vərˈæsɪti/
Meanings
Noun
the truth or accuracy of a statement, claim, or report
habitual truthfulness or honesty in a person
Beyond the definition
Veracity is about truthfulness and accuracy. It can describe a person's honesty, but it is also often used for claims, reports, stories, or statements. Think of a historian checking facts carefully, or a journalist making sure a report matches the evidence. If someone questions the veracity of what you said, they are doubting whether it is true. The word has a formal tone and is often used when trust and facts matter.
The word "veracity" refers to truthfulness or accuracy. It can describe a person's habit of telling the truth, but it is very often used to talk about whether a statement, report, story, or claim is true. It is a formal word, and it usually appears in situations where people care about facts, evidence, and trust.
Historically, "veracity" comes from the Latin word verax, meaning "truthful." It is often used in contexts where accuracy matters a great deal, such as journalism, research, law, or public debate. People may talk about the veracity of a witness's testimony, the veracity of a news report, or the veracity of a public claim.
You might say, "The veracity of the report was confirmed by multiple sources," meaning its truthfulness was supported by evidence. Or, "She questioned the veracity of his claims," meaning she doubted that they were true. In that sense, the word often points not just to honesty, but to whether something can stand up to checking and proof.
Unlike "truth," which can name a fact itself, "veracity" points to the quality of being truthful or accurate. It can describe a person, but in modern use it is especially common for information and statements. When people ask about veracity, they are usually asking, "Can this be trusted as true?"
Examples
- 1
Fact-checking
Before sharing the article, she checked the veracity of the claims it made.
- Patternthe veracity of + claim/statement
whether it is true or accurate
- 2
Witness statement
The police are still investigating the veracity of the witness's statement.
- 3
Personal honesty
After he was caught lying about small things, even his friends began to doubt his veracity.
- 4
Online rumors
Online rumors often spread faster than anyone can confirm their veracity.
See also
Similar
- truthfulness
- accuracy
- factuality
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
- voracity
Used with (collocations)
- the veracity of a claim
- question the veracity
- establish the veracity
- veracity of testimony
Word family
- veracious
Explore
- evidence
- fact-checking
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- veracitynoun