veracity
vuh-RASS-uh-tee
/vəˈræsəti/
Conformity to facts; accuracy; habitual truthfulness.
Refers to the truthfulness of a statement, report, or witness, often evaluated formally in academic or legal contexts.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'veracitas', derived from 'verax' (truthful) and 'verus' (true). This root also gives us words like 'verify' (make true), 'verdict' (true speaking), and 'veritable' (genuine). Veracity is the quality of aligning perfectly with what is true.
Word relationships
- truthfulness: Truthfulness is everyday vocabulary, whereas veracity is formal and used in legal, academic, or critical contexts.
- accuracy: Accuracy refers to correctness of details, while veracity includes both factual correctness and personal truthfulness.
- mendacity: Untruthfulness and habitual lying.
- falsity: The fact of being untrue or incorrect.
Commonly confused with
- voracity: Voracity means ravenous hunger; veracity means truthfulness.
Word family
- veracious (adjective): Speaking or representing the truth; truthful.
Collocations
- question the veracity
- verify the veracity
- doubt the veracity
- historical veracity
Idioms & expressions
- ring true
Example sentences
- "The defense attorney raised doubts regarding the veracity of the key witness's account." Legal cross-examination
- "Fact-checkers were hired to verify the historical veracity of the claims made in the documentary." Academic journalism
Memory hook
VERA-city is a city built on VERY true facts (verify, verdict). Verified truth.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'voracity' (eager hunger or greediness).
Fun facts
- Confusing 'veracity' (truth) with 'voracity' (hunger) is one of the most famous SAT error traps in test-taking history!
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