True vs. Real — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 19, 2023
"True" pertains to facts, accuracy, or genuineness, while "Real" denotes actual existence or authenticity without imitation.
Difference Between True and Real
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"True" is a word often used to signify accuracy, genuineness, or correctness. "Real," meanwhile, signifies something's existence or authenticity in the tangible world, differentiating it from the unreal or imaginary.
When you say something is "True," you're often referring to its veracity. For instance, a true statement is one that aligns with facts. "Real," however, suggests that something exists tangibly, differentiating it from things that are mere figments of the imagination.
A "True" love or a "True" friend refers to the genuine and sincere nature of that emotion or relationship, implying depth and constancy. "Real" gold, on the other hand, indicates that the gold is not fake or imitative but exists authentically.
Sometimes, the words can overlap in meaning. A "True" story is one based on factual events, but a "Real" story might also imply the same, with added emphasis on tangible occurrences or personal experiences. However, "True" generally leans more towards conceptual authenticity, and "Real" towards physical existence.
Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Accuracy, genuineness
Actual existence
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Usage
Relates to veracity
Denotes tangible existence
Contextual Application
Emotional, Conceptual, Factual
Physical, Tangible
Opposite
False
Unreal, Fake
Common Phrases
True love, True north
Real world, Real deal
Compare with Definitions
True
In accordance with fact or reality.
Her story was found to be true.
Real
Actually existing as a thing.
Unicorns are not real.
True
Accurate or exact.
The model was a true representation of the building.
Real
Genuine and sincere.
His real motive was to help.
True
Loyal or faithful.
He remained a true friend.
Real
Actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imagined or supposed
Julius Caesar was a real person
Her many illnesses, real and imaginary
True
Properly aligned or positioned.
The door isn't hanging true.
Real
(of a thing) not imitation or artificial; genuine
The earring was presumably real gold
True
Consistent with fact or reality; not false or erroneous
The true cost.
Real
Complete; utter (used for emphasis)
The tour turned out to be a real disaster
True
Not counterfeit; real or genuine
True gold.
Real
Adjusted for changes in the value of money; assessed by purchasing power
Real incomes had fallen by 30 per cent
An increase in real terms of 11.6 per cent
True
Conforming to the characteristics or criteria of a group or type; typical
A true crab.
A true gentleman.
Real
(of a number or quantity) having no imaginary part.
True
Properly called
True value.
Real
(of an image) of a kind in which the light that forms it actually passes through it; not virtual.
True
Reliable; accurate
A true prophecy.
Real
Really; very
My head hurts real bad
True
Faithful, as to a friend, vow, or cause; loyal.
Real
The basic monetary unit of Brazil since 1994, equal to 100 centavos.
True
(Archaic) Truthful, honest, or trustworthy.
Real
Being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verifiable existence
Real objects.
A real illness.
True
Sincerely felt or expressed; unfeigned
True grief.
Real
True and actual; not imaginary, alleged, or ideal
Real people, not ghosts.
A film based on real life.
True
Rightful; legitimate
The true heir.
Real
Of or founded on practical matters and concerns
A recent graduate experiencing the real world for the first time.
True
Exactly conforming to a rule, standard, or pattern
Trying to sing true B.
Real
Genuine and authentic; not artificial or spurious
Real mink.
Real humility.
True
Accurately shaped, fitted, or placed
Are the wheels true?.
Real
Being no less than what is stated; worthy of the name
A real friend.
True
Determined with reference to the earth's axis, not the magnetic poles
True north.
Real
Free of pretense, falsehood, or affectation
Tourists hoping for a real experience on the guided tour.
True
Quick and exact in sensing and responding
A true ear.
Real
Not to be taken lightly; serious
In real trouble.
True
(Computers) Indicating one of two possible values taken by a variable in Boolean logic or a binary device.
Real
(Philosophy) Existing objectively in the world regardless of subjectivity or conventions of thought or language.
True
In accord with reality, fact, or truthfulness.
Real
Relating to, being, or having value reckoned by actual purchasing power
Real income.
Real growth.
True
Unswervingly; exactly
The archer aimed true.
Real
(Physics) Of, relating to, or being an image formed by light rays that converge in space.
True
So as to conform to a type, standard, or pattern.
Real
(Mathematics) Of, relating to, or being a real number.
True
To position (something) so as to make it balanced, level, or square
Trued up the long planks.
Real
(Law) Of or relating to stationary or fixed property, such as buildings or land.
True
Truth or reality. Used with the.
Real
Very
I'm real sorry about that.
True
Proper alignment or adjustment
Out of true.
Real
A thing or whole having actual existence. Often used with the
Theories beyond the realm of the real.
True
(of a statement) Conforming to the actual state of reality or fact; factually correct.
This is a true story.
Real
(Mathematics) A real number.
True
As an ellipsis of "(while) it is true (that)", used to start a sentence
True, I have only read part of the book, but I like it so far.
Real
A silver coin formerly used in Spain and Latin America.
True
Conforming to a rule or pattern; exact; accurate.
A true copy;
A true likeness of the original
Real
A unit of currency formerly used in Portugal.
True
(logic) Of the state in Boolean logic that indicates an affirmative or positive result.
"A and B" is true if and only if "A" is true and "B" is true.
Real
See Table at currency.
True
Loyal, faithful.
He’s turned out to be a true friend.
Real
True, genuine, not merely nominal or apparent.
True
Genuine; legitimate, valid.
This is true Parmesan cheese.
The true king has returned!
Real
Genuine, not artificial, counterfeit, or fake.
This is real leather.
True
Used in the designation of group of species, or sometimes a single species, to indicate that it belongs to the clade its common name (which may be more broadly scoped in common speech) is restricted to in technical speech, or to distinguish it from a similar species, the latter of which may be called false.
True spiders
Real
Genuine, unfeigned, sincere.
These are real tears!
True
Accurate; following a path toward the target.
Real
Actually being, existing, or occurring; not fictitious or imaginary.
A description of real life
True
(of a mechanical part) Correctly aligned or calibrated, without deviation.
Is my bike wheel true? It feels unsteady.
Real
That has objective, physical existence.
No one has ever seen a real unicorn.
True
Fair, unbiased, not loaded.
Real
(economics) Having been adjusted to remove the effects of inflation; measured in purchasing power contrast nominal.
My dad calculated my family's real consumption per month.
What is the real GNP of this polity?
True
(of a literary genre) based on actual historical events.
Real
(economics) Relating to the result of the actions of rational agents; relating to neoclassical economic models as opposed to Keynesian models.
True
(of shooting, throwing etc) Accurately.
This gun shoots true.
Real
Being either a rational number, or the limit of a convergent infinite sequence of rational numbers: being one of a set of numbers with a one-to-one correspondence to the points on a line.
True
(archaic) Truthfully.
Real
(legal) Relating to immovable tangible property.
Real estate;
Real property
True
(uncountable) The state of being in alignment.
Real
Absolute, complete, utter.
This is a real problem.
True
Truth.
Real
(slang) Signifying meritorious qualities or actions especially as regard the enjoyment of life, prowess at sports, or success wooing potential partners.
I'm keeping it real.
True
A pledge or truce.
Real
Really, very.
When I told him the truth, he got real mad.
True
To straighten (of something that is supposed to be straight).
He trued the spokes of the bicycle wheel.
Real
A commodity; see realty.
True
To make even, level, symmetrical, or accurate, align; adjust.
We spent all night truing up the report.
Real
(grammar) One of the three genders that the common gender can be separated into in the Scandinavian languages.
True
Conformable to fact; in accordance with the actual state of things; correct; not false, erroneous, inaccurate, or the like; as, a true relation or narration; a true history; a declaration is true when it states the facts.
Real
(mathematics) A real number.
True
Right to precision; conformable to a rule or pattern; exact; accurate; as, a true copy; a true likeness of the original.
Making his eye, foot, and hand keep true time.
Real
(obsolete) A realist.
True
Steady in adhering to friends, to promises, to a prince, or the like; unwavering; faithful; loyal; not false, fickle, or perfidious; as, a true friend; a wife true to her husband; an officer true to his charge.
Thy so true,So faithful, love unequaled.
Dare to be true: nothing can need a lie.
Real
Former unit of currency of Spain and Spain's colonies.
True
Actual; not counterfeit, adulterated, or pretended; genuine; pure; real; as, true balsam; true love of country; a true Christian.
The true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
True ease in writing comes from art, not chance.
Real
A coin worth one real.
True
Genuine; real; not deviating from the essential characters of a class; as, a lizard is a true reptile; a whale is a true, but not a typical, mammal.
Real
A unit of currency used in Portugal and its colonies from 1430 until 1911, and in Brazil from 1790 until 1942.
True
In accordance with truth; truly.
Real
A coin worth one real.
True
Proper alignment; the property possessed by something that is in correct or proper alignment;
Out of true
Real
A unit of currency used in Brazil since 1994. Symbol: R$.
True
Make level, square, balanced, or concentric;
True up the cylinder of an engine
Real
A coin worth one real.
True
Consistent with fact or reality; not false;
The story is true
It is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true
The true meaning of the statement
Real
A former small Spanish silver coin; also, a denomination of money of account, formerly the unit of the Spanish monetary system.
True
Not synthetic or spurious; of real or natural origin;
Real mink
True gold
Real
A realist.
True
Conforming to definitive criteria;
The horseshoe crab is not a true crab
Pythagoras was the first true mathematician
Real
Royal; regal; kingly.
True
Accurately placed or thrown;
His aim was true
He was dead on target
Real
Actually being or existing; not fictitious or imaginary; as, a description of real life.
Whereat I waked, and foundBefore mine eyes all real, as the dreamHad lively shadowed.
True
Devoted (sometimes fanatically) to a cause or concept or truth;
True believers bonded together against all who disagreed with them
Real
True; genuine; not artificial, counterfeit, or factitious; often opposed to ostensible; as, the real reason; real Madeira wine; real ginger.
Whose perfection far excelledHers in all real dignity.
True
Expressing or given to expressing the truth;
A true statement
Gave truthful testimony
A truthful person
Real
Relating to things, not to persons.
Many are perfect in men's humors that are not greatly capable of the real part of business.
True
Worthy of being depended on;
A dependable worker
An honest working stiff
A reliable source of information
He was true to his word
I would be true for there are those who trust me
Real
Having an assignable arithmetical or numerical value or meaning; not imaginary.
True
Not pretended; sincerely felt or expressed;
Genuine emotion
Her interest in people was unfeigned
True grief
Real
Pertaining to things fixed, permanent, or immovable, as to lands and tenements; as, real property, in distinction from personal or movable property.
For he that but conceives a crime in thought,Contracts the danger of an actual fault.
Our simple ideas are all real; all agree to the reality of things.
True
Rightly so called;
True courage
A spirit which true men have always admired
A true friend
Real
Any rational or irrational number
True
Determined with reference to the earth's axis rather than the magnetic poles;
True north is geographic north
Real
An old small silver Spanish coin
True
Having a legally established claim;
The legitimate heir
The true and lawful king
Real
Being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory;
Real objects
Real people; not ghosts
A film based on real life
A real illness
Real humility
Life is real! Life is earnest!
True
In tune; accurate in pitch;
A true note
Real
No less than what is stated; worthy of the name;
The real reason
Real war
A real friend
A real woman
Meat and potatoes--I call that a real meal
It's time he had a real job
It's no penny-ante job--he's making real money
True
Accurately fitted; level;
The window frame isn't quite true
Real
Being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something;
Her actual motive
A literal solitude like a desert
A genuine dilemma
True
Reliable as a basis for action;
A true prophesy
Real
Not synthetic or spurious; of real or natural origin;
Real mink
True gold
True
As acknowledged;
True, she is the smartest in her class
Real
Not to be taken lightly;
Statistics demonstrate that poverty and unemployment are very real problems
To the man sleeping regularly in doorways homelessness is real
True
Genuine in feeling or expression.
His true intentions were revealed.
Real
Possible to be treated as fact;
Tangible evidence
His brief time as Prime Minister brought few real benefits to the poor
Real
Being value measured in terms of purchasing power;
Real prices
Real income
Real wages
Real
Having substance or capable of being treated as fact; not imaginary;
The substantial world
A mere dream, neither substantial nor practical
Most ponderous and substantial things
Real
(of property) fixed or immovable;
Real property consists of land and buildings; real estate
Real
Coinciding with reality;
Perceptual error...has a surprising resemblance to veridical perception
Real
Founded on practical matters;
A recent graduate experiencing the real world for the first time
Real
Used as intensifiers; `real' is sometimes used informally for `really'; `rattling' is informal;
She was very gifted
He played very well
A really enjoyable evening
I'm real sorry about it
A rattling good yarn
Real
Not imitation or artificial.
She wore real diamond earrings.
Real
Of substantial importance.
The real issue is the climate.
Real
In terms of tangible commodities.
He paid in real money, not credit.
Common Curiosities
What's the opposite of "True"?
The opposite of "True" is "False."
Does "True" gold mean the same as "Real" gold?
"True" gold implies genuineness, while "Real" gold denotes its actual existence.
Is "True North" the same as geographic north?
No, True North refers to the geographic North Pole, not the magnetic north.
Is "Real" always about tangible things?
Mostly, but it can also denote genuineness, like "real emotion."
Can a feeling be "True"?
Yes, a feeling can be true in the sense of being genuine or sincere.
Can something imaginary be "Real"?
No, if it's imaginary, it doesn't exist tangibly and isn't "Real."
Can "True" and "Real" be used interchangeably?
Sometimes they can overlap, but they have distinct primary meanings: accuracy vs. existence.
Does "Real" always imply valuable?
Not always. "Real" denotes existence or authenticity, not necessarily value.
Can something be "Real" but not "True"?
Yes, a story can be real (tangible) but not necessarily true (accurate).
Is "Real estate" about genuine estates?
No, "Real estate" refers to property or land, not its genuineness.
Is a "True" story always factual?
A "True" story implies it's based on actual events, but details can be subjective.
What's "Real" time in tech?
"Real" time refers to processing data immediately as it's received.
Can "True" refer to alignment?
Yes, like in "The shelf isn't level; it's not true."
Is a "True color" the same as a "Real color"?
"True color" is unaltered, showing as it is, while "Real color" denotes actual color in existence.
What does "True to form" mean?
It means behaving as one typically does, consistent with one's character.
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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.
