verity

noun

ver·​i·​ty ˈver-ə-tē How to pronounce verity (audio)
plural verities
1
: the quality or state of being true or real
2
: something (such as a statement) that is true
especially : a fundamental and inevitably true value
such eternal verities as honor, love, and patriotism
3
: the quality or state of being truthful or honest
the king-becoming graces, as justice, verityWilliam Shakespeare

Examples of verity in a Sentence

the local tourist bureau is less concerned with the verity of the legend than the fact that it attracts visitors to the area no one is questioning your verity—just your memory of events that happened long ago
Recent Examples on the Web Putin conducts himself as a human quotation from the past, a restorer of Russia's age-old verities. Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024 The question for Israelis is what will fill the void left by the loss of the old verities. Daniel Benjamin, The Atlantic, 7 Dec. 2023 Taking a whimsical approach to geographical verities, Fernando Poyón constructs a world map in which countries have been jumbled out of position and into a single continent. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 7 July 2023 Stalin is there too, wearing an expression that could only be described as stony and positioned, with due regard for the historical verities, within a dagger's throw of Vladimir Ilyich’s back. Christopher Helman, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2023 Family was not the only eternal verity to appear. New York Times, 17 Mar. 2021 Among them is one verity that sets the company’s surreptitious nature at the center of its culture. John Archibald | Jarchibald@al.com, al, 3 Aug. 2022 The space, unencumbered by outside (read: white) expectations that can often influence the verity of the work, allows filmmakers to share their projects with the world exactly as they were meant to be shared. Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 18 Mar. 2022 Each asked for more personal information than would be necessary to mail a blank card, like date of birth and telephone number, making a verity of claims. NBC News, 16 Sep. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'verity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English verite, borrowed from Anglo-French verité, borrowed from Latin vēritāt-, vēritās, from vērus "true" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at very entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of verity was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near verity

Cite this Entry

“Verity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verity. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

verity

noun
ver·​i·​ty ˈver-ət-ē How to pronounce verity (audio)
plural verities
1
: the quality or state of being true or real
2
: something (as a statement) that is true : fact
3
: the quality or state of being truthful or honest : veracity
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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