Reality vs. Truth — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 16, 2023
Reality refers to the state of things as they actually exist; Truth is a concept denoting what is correct, accurate, or in accordance with fact.
Difference Between Reality and Truth
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Reality is the manifestation of all that exists and can be perceived through the senses, be it tangible or intangible. It encompasses the present state of the world around us. Conversely, Truth pertains to the authenticity and correctness of a statement, belief, or thought.
Reality often remains constant and can be universally experienced, regardless of personal beliefs. A mountain remains a mountain to all observers. However, Truth can sometimes be subjective, hinging on individual perceptions, beliefs, and cultural norms.
Another way to discern between Reality and Truth is by examining their nature. While Reality is what we perceive, it's not always the entire picture. Truth, on the other hand, is a comprehensive understanding or representation of a fact, often uncolored by individual biases.
Reality provides the backdrop against which we assess the veracity of our beliefs. It is the field in which Truth either stands tall or falters. Truth, meanwhile, is the alignment or mismatch of our beliefs with this reality.
Both Reality and Truth are essential for our understanding of the world. While Reality forms the concrete foundation of our experiences, Truth is the measure by which we judge the correctness of our perceptions and beliefs about that reality.
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Tangible existence
Authenticity of a statement
Subjectivity
Generally constant
Can be subjective based on beliefs
Foundation
Based on existence and perception
Based on facts and correctness
Scope
Encompasses everything that exists
Pertains to the correctness of beliefs and statements
Relation to Perception
What is perceived
How accurately something is perceived
Compare with Definitions
Reality
The sum of real things and events.
Virtual simulations cannot replace Reality.
Truth
Conformity to fact or actuality.
The Truth was stranger than fiction.
Reality
An actual event, situation, or fact.
The earthquake's devastation was a grim Reality.
Truth
A verified or indisputable fact or proposition.
The mathematical proof revealed the Truth.
Reality
A true situation or condition of existence.
Facing the Reality of one's mistakes is crucial for growth.
Truth
An established principle or law.
The laws of physics are universal Truths.
Reality
The state of things as they exist, irrespective of perception.
The Reality of the situation became clear after the investigation.
Truth
Truth is the property of being in accord with fact or reality. In everyday language, truth is typically ascribed to things that aim to represent reality or otherwise correspond to it, such as beliefs, propositions, and declarative sentences.Truth is usually held to be the opposite of falsehood.
Reality
That which is not influenced by personal beliefs.
Regardless of opinions, the Reality remains unchanged.
Truth
Conformity to fact or actuality
Does this story have any truth?.
Reality
Reality is the sum or aggregate of all that is real or existent within a system, as opposed to that which is only imaginary. The term is also used to refer to the ontological status of things, indicating their existence.
Truth
Reality; actuality
In truth, he was not qualified for the job.
Reality
The state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them
Laura was losing touch with reality
He refuses to face reality
Truth
The reality of a situation
The truth is, she respects your work.
Reality
The state or quality of having existence or substance
Youth, when death has no reality
Truth
A statement proven to be or accepted as true
Truths about nature.
Reality
The quality or state of being actual or true.
Truth
Such statements considered as a group
Researchers in pursuit of truth.
Reality
One, such as a person, an entity, or an event, that is actual
"the weight of history and political realities" (Benno C. Schmidt, Jr.).
Truth
Sincerity; integrity
The truth of his intentions.
Reality
The totality of all things possessing actuality, existence, or essence.
Truth
Fidelity to an original or standard
The truth of the copy.
Reality
That which exists objectively and in fact
Your observations do not seem to be about reality.
Truth
Theology & Philosophy That which is considered to be the ultimate ground of reality.
Reality
Relating to or being a genre of television or film in which a storyline is created by editing footage of people interacting or competing with one another in unscripted, unrehearsed situations.
Truth
(Logic) The positive (true) truth-value.
Reality
The state of being actual or real; realness.
The reality of the crash scene on TV dawned upon him only when he saw the victim was no actor but his friend.
Truth
True facts, genuine depiction or statements of reality.
The truth is that our leaders knew a lot more than they were letting on.
Reality
The real world.
Truth
Conformity to fact or reality; correctness, accuracy.
There was some truth in his statement that he had no other choice.
Reality
A real entity, event, or other fact.
The ultimate reality of life is that it ends in death.
Truth
The state or quality of being true to someone or something.
Truth to one's own feelings is all-important in life.
Reality
The entirety of all that is real.
Truth
(archaic) Faithfulness, fidelity.
Reality
An individual observer's own subjective perception of that which is real.
Truth
(obsolete) A pledge of loyalty or faith.
Reality
(obsolete) loyalty; devotion.
Truth
Conformity to rule; exactness; close correspondence with an example, mood, model, etc.
Reality
; real estate.
Truth
That which is real, in a deeper sense; spiritual or ‘genuine’ reality.
The truth is what is.
Alcoholism and redemption led me finally to truth.
Reality
The state or quality of being real; actual being or existence of anything, in distinction from mere appearance; fact.
A man fancies that he understands a critic, when in reality he does not comprehend his meaning.
Truth
(countable) Something acknowledged to be true; a true statement or axiom.
Hunger and jealousy are just eternal truths of human existence.
Reality
That which is real; an actual existence; that which is not imagination, fiction, or pretense; that which has objective existence, and is not merely an idea.
And to realities yield all her shows.
My neck may be an idea to you, but it is a reality to me.
Truth
Topness; the property of a truth quark.
Reality
Loyalty; devotion.
To express our reality to the emperor.
Truth
(games) In the game truth or dare, the choice to truthfully answer a question put forth.
When asked truth or dare, he picked truth.
Reality
See 2d Realty, 2.
Truth
To assert as true; to declare; to speak truthfully.
Reality
All of your experiences that determine how things appear to you;
His world was shattered
We live in different worlds
For them demons were as much a part of reality as trees were
Truth
To make exact; to correct for inaccuracy.
Reality
The state of being actual or real;
The reality of his situation slowly dawned on him
Truth
To tell the truth.
Reality
The state of the world as it really is rather than as you might want it to be;
Businessmen have to face harsh realities
Truth
The quality or being true; as: - (a) Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been; or shall be.
Reality
The quality possessed by something that is real
Truth
Conformity to rule; exactness; close correspondence with an example, mood, object of imitation, or the like.
Plows, to go true, depend much on the truth of the ironwork.
Truth
That which is true or certain concerning any matter or subject, or generally on all subjects; real state of things; fact; verity; reality.
Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor.
I long to know the truth here of at large.
The truth depends on, or is only arrived at by, a legitimate deduction from all the facts which are truly material.
Truth
Fidelity; constancy; steadfastness; faithfulness.
Alas! they had been friends in youth,But whispering tongues can poison truth.
Truth
A true thing; a verified fact; a true statement or proposition; an established principle, fixed law, or the like; as, the great truths of morals.
Even so our boasting . . . is found a truth.
Truth
The practice of speaking what is true; freedom from falsehood; veracity.
If this will not suffice, it must appearThat malice bears down truth.
Truth
Righteousness; true religion.
Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.
He that doeth truth cometh to the light.
Truth
To assert as true; to declare.
Had they [the ancients] dreamt this, they would have truthed it heaven.
Truth
A fact that has been verified;
At last he knew the truth
The truth is the he didn't want to do it
Truth
Conformity to reality or actuality;
They debated the truth of the proposition
The situation brought home to us the blunt truth of the military threat
He was famous for the truth of his portraits
He turned to religion in his search for eternal verities
Truth
A true statement;
He told the truth
He thought of answering with the truth but he knew they wouldn't believe it
Truth
The quality of nearness to the truth or the true value;
He was beginning to doubt the accuracy of his compass
The lawyer questioned the truth of my account
Truth
United States abolitionist and feminist who was freed from slavery and became a leading advocate of the abolition of slavery and for the rights of women (1797-1883)
Truth
The state of being in accord with a particular fact or reality.
He finally admitted the Truth about his actions.
Truth
Sincerity; integrity; honesty.
She spoke with Truth, baring her emotions.
Common Curiosities
Can Truth be subjective?
Yes, Truth can sometimes be subjective, based on personal beliefs, while Reality is more constant.
Is there a single Truth for every Reality?
Not necessarily. Reality is what exists, but there can be multiple interpretations or Truths about it.
Is Reality always tangible?
No, Reality encompasses both tangible and intangible aspects, while Truth pertains to its accurate representation.
Is fiction a form of Reality?
Fiction is a creation of the mind, but its influence and interpretation can be a Reality in cultural contexts.
Is Reality always the Truth?
Reality is the state of things, while Truth is the correctness of our perceptions; they might not always align.
Can our senses always depict Reality correctly?
Our senses provide a perception of Reality, but various factors can sometimes distort the Truth.
Can Truth change over time?
As we gain more information and understanding, our perception of Truth can evolve, even if the Reality remains the same.
Can two people have different Truths about the same Reality?
Yes, individuals can perceive the same Reality differently and thus have different Truths.
How can one ascertain the Truth of a situation?
By comparing individual beliefs or statements with the actual Reality or facts.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
