truism
gb/tɹˈuɪzəm/ us/tɹˈuɪzəm/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
abstract
1
an obvious, unoriginal truth
a true statement that is so obvious it sounds boring or not helpful
Usage pattern:
[a truism] / [a truism about something] / It is a truism that [clause]
Common mistake:
A truism is usually criticized as too obvious; it is not just any true fact.
Synonyms
platitude (Emphasizes that it sounds dull or insincere because it is overused.)
|
cliché (Often used for overused phrases; a truism is specifically an over-obvious truth.)
|
commonplace (Stresses that it is widely known and not original.)
|
banality (Focuses on dullness rather than truth.)
Antonyms
insight (An insight is a fresh, helpful understanding, not an over-obvious remark.)
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revelation (A revelation is surprising new information, unlike a truism.)
Collocations
a simple truism
|an obvious truism
|a tired truism
|a well-worn truism
|a commonplace truism
|a political truism
|a truism about life
|full of truisms
|repeat a truism
|dismissed as a truism
Themes
communication
|writing
|opinions
Examples
- The speech was full of truisms about hard work and perseverance.
- Saying that money can’t buy happiness is a truism, but it still rings true for many people.
- Her advice sounded more like a truism than a practical suggestion.
Learner examples
- ‘Be yourself’ can sound like a truism.
- His comments were just truisms.
Noun
technical
C2
abstract
2
a statement always true in logic
in logic, a sentence that must be true in every case
Usage pattern:
[a logical truism] / [a truism in logic] / [a truism of propositional logic]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse this technical sense with the everyday sense meaning ‘a boring obvious truth.’
Synonyms
tautology (Often overlaps in logic, though some writers use 'tautology' more narrowly for statements true by form.)
|
logical truth (A more general technical term for a statement true in all models/interpretations.)
Antonyms
contradiction (A contradiction is false in every possible case.)
Collocations
logical truism
|a truism in propositional logic
|a truism of predicate logic
|prove a truism
|a truism by definition
|a tautology and a truism
|truth-table truism
|logically true truism
Themes
logic
|philosophy
|education
Examples
- In propositional logic, ‘P or not P’ is a standard example of a truism.
- The lecturer distinguished empirical claims from truisms that are true by definition.
- Using a truth table, you can check whether the formula is a truism.
Learner examples
- In logic, some sentences are truisms.
- A truism is always true.
Grammar
Dictionary form
truism
IPA
GB/tɹˈuɪzəm/
US/tɹˈuɪzəm/
Syllables & stress
tru - ism (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tru)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: truism
- Plural: truisms
Expressions
it is a truism that [clause]
1/ˈɪt ˈɪz ə tɹˈuɪzəm ðˈæt klˈɔz/
fixed phrase
introduce an obvious general truth
used to say something is obviously true (often not very useful)
Examples
- It is a truism that good communication matters, but the team still struggled to coordinate.
- It is a truism that practice helps, yet many students avoid it.
- It is a truism that time is limited, so we need to prioritize.