veracity
C1Formal, academic, journalistic, legal.
Definition
Meaning
the quality or state of being true, accurate, or honest; truthfulness.
Conformity to facts; accuracy, or habitual truthfulness. It refers to the correspondence between a statement and the reality it purports to describe.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Veracity" is a noun for an abstract quality. It often applies to people's character (habitual truthfulness) or to statements/facts (inherent truth). It's more formal than "truthfulness" and carries a connotation of established, demonstrable truth.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Associated with formal discourse, law, journalism, and academia in both regions.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English corpus data, but commonly used in American English, especially in formal writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
doubt the veracity of [NP]question the veracity of [NP][NP] of questionable veracityVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in due diligence or auditing contexts: 'We must verify the veracity of the financial statements.'
Academic
Common in research and historiography: 'The study critiques the veracity of the primary sources.'
Everyday
Rare in casual speech; used in serious discussions about truth: 'I have reasons to doubt the veracity of his story.'
Technical
Used in data science and information theory: 'The algorithm assesses the veracity of the data stream.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- No verb form. The related verb is 'to verify'.
American English
- No verb form. The related verb is 'to verify'.
adverb
British English
- He reported the events veraciously.
- The data was veraciously recorded.
American English
- She spoke veraciously under oath.
- The journalist wrote veraciously about the conflict.
adjective
British English
- His account was veracious. (rare)
- A veracious witness is crucial.
American English
- The source proved to be veracious.
- She has a reputation for being veracious.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The policeman wanted to check the veracity of my story.
- I believe in the veracity of her words.
- Journalists have a duty to verify the veracity of their sources.
- The veracity of the historical document has been hotly debated.
- The committee cast serious doubt on the veracity of the witness's testimony.
- Philosophers have long grappled with the problem of establishing the veracity of sensory perception.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of "VERA-city" - a city (like a community) built on what is TRUE (from Latin 'verus'). You can trust the facts in Vera City.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRUTH IS A SOLID FOUNDATION / TRUTH IS A MEASURABLE QUALITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "искренность" (sincerity). "Veracity" is about factual truth, not emotional honesty.
- Not directly equivalent to "правда". "Правда" is often the truth as a statement. "Veracity" is the *quality* of that truth.
- Avoid using it as a simple synonym for "честность" (honesty), which is broader.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a veracity'). It is generally uncountable.
- Confusing with 'voracity' (meaning greediness).
- Using it in overly casual contexts where 'truth' would suffice.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest in meaning to 'veracity'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a formal, upper-level (C1-C2) vocabulary word. It's common in academic, legal, and journalistic writing but rare in everyday conversation.
'Honesty' is a broader moral quality of being disposed to tell the truth. 'Veracity' is more specific, referring to the actual correspondence with facts or a habitual adherence to truth.
Yes. You can question the veracity of a statement, a report, data, or a rumour. It applies to the truth-content of information.
The adjective is 'veracious' (meaning truthful). However, it is less common than the noun. 'Verified' or 'accurate' are often used instead in modern English.
Collections
Part of a collection
High-Level Idiomatic Expressions
C2 · 45 words · Sophisticated idiomatic and nuanced vocabulary.