Real vs. True: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Real" signifies actual existence or occurrence, while "true" means being in alignment with fact or reality, denoting accuracy or faithfulness.
Key Differences
The word 'real' refers to something that exists in fact, something tangible and concrete. It emphasizes the actual existence or presence of something. 'True,' on the other hand, refers to the accuracy, truthfulness, or faithfulness of something, whether it's a statement, fact, or principle.
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Nov 17, 2023
'Real' is often used to describe physical, tangible entities or experiences that can be perceived by the senses. In contrast, 'true' is more commonly associated with concepts, ideas, or statements that are accurate or in alignment with facts or reality.
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Nov 17, 2023
When something is described as 'real,' it underscores its presence in the physical world, its authenticity, or its not being imaginary. 'True,' however, is used to indicate conformity with a standard, truth, or authenticity in a more abstract sense, like in principles or information.
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Nov 17, 2023
In terms of usage, 'real' can be applied to objects, experiences, and situations, denoting their actual existence or genuineness. 'True,' conversely, is often used in the context of information, statements, and beliefs, emphasizing their correctness or fidelity to reality.
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Nov 17, 2023
The connotations of 'real' also involve authenticity and originality, as opposed to being fake or artificial. 'True' carries the implication of being loyal, faithful, or consistent with an original or a standard.
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Nov 17, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Usage
Describes physical entities or experiences.
Describes accuracy of concepts or statements.
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Application
Objects, experiences, situations.
Information, beliefs, principles.
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Nov 17, 2023
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Real and True Definitions
Real
Actually existing or happening, not imagined.
The threat of climate change is very real.
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True
Accurate or exact.
The documentary provided a true account of the historical event.
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Real
Genuine, not fake or artificial.
She appreciated the real leather of her new bag.
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Real
Legitimate or serious.
After months of practice, his skills as a pianist were real.
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Real
Being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verifiable existence
Real objects.
A real illness.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
True and actual; not imaginary, alleged, or ideal
Real people, not ghosts.
A film based on real life.
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Oct 19, 2023
True
Conforming to the characteristics or criteria of a group or type; typical
A true crab.
A true gentleman.
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Real
Of or founded on practical matters and concerns
A recent graduate experiencing the real world for the first time.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Genuine and authentic; not artificial or spurious
Real mink.
Real humility.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Free of pretense, falsehood, or affectation
Tourists hoping for a real experience on the guided tour.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
(Philosophy) Existing objectively in the world regardless of subjectivity or conventions of thought or language.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Relating to, being, or having value reckoned by actual purchasing power
Real income.
Real growth.
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Oct 19, 2023
True
Exactly conforming to a rule, standard, or pattern
Trying to sing true B.
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Real
(Physics) Of, relating to, or being an image formed by light rays that converge in space.
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True
Determined with reference to the earth's axis, not the magnetic poles
True north.
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Real
(Law) Of or relating to stationary or fixed property, such as buildings or land.
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True
(Computers) Indicating one of two possible values taken by a variable in Boolean logic or a binary device.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
A thing or whole having actual existence. Often used with the
Theories beyond the realm of the real.
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True
To position (something) so as to make it balanced, level, or square
Trued up the long planks.
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True
(of a statement) Conforming to the actual state of reality or fact; factually correct.
This is a true story.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Actually being, existing, or occurring; not fictitious or imaginary.
A description of real life
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True
Conforming to a rule or pattern; exact; accurate.
A true copy;
A true likeness of the original
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Real
That has objective, physical existence.
No one has ever seen a real unicorn.
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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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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?
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
(economics) Relating to the result of the actions of rational agents; relating to neoclassical economic models as opposed to Keynesian models.
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Oct 19, 2023
True
Genuine; legitimate, valid.
This is true Parmesan cheese.
The true king has returned!
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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.
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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
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
(legal) Relating to immovable tangible property.
Real estate;
Real property
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Oct 19, 2023
True
(of a mechanical part) Correctly aligned or calibrated, without deviation.
Is my bike wheel true? It feels unsteady.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
(grammar) One of the three genders that the common gender can be separated into in the Scandinavian languages.
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Oct 19, 2023
True
To straighten (of something that is supposed to be straight).
He trued the spokes of the bicycle wheel.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
A unit of currency used in Portugal and its colonies from 1430 until 1911, and in Brazil from 1790 until 1942.
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Oct 19, 2023
True
To make even, level, symmetrical, or accurate, align; adjust.
We spent all night truing up the report.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
A former small Spanish silver coin; also, a denomination of money of account, formerly the unit of the Spanish monetary system.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
True
Proper alignment; the property possessed by something that is in correct or proper alignment;
Out of true
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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.
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Oct 19, 2023
True
Make level, square, balanced, or concentric;
True up the cylinder of an engine
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Having an assignable arithmetical or numerical value or meaning; not imaginary.
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True
Not synthetic or spurious; of real or natural origin;
Real mink
True gold
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
True
Conforming to definitive criteria;
The horseshoe crab is not a true crab
Pythagoras was the first true mathematician
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True
Devoted (sometimes fanatically) to a cause or concept or truth;
True believers bonded together against all who disagreed with them
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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!
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Oct 19, 2023
True
Expressing or given to expressing the truth;
A true statement
Gave truthful testimony
A truthful person
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Oct 19, 2023
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
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Oct 19, 2023
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
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something;
Her actual motive
A literal solitude like a desert
A genuine dilemma
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Oct 19, 2023
True
Not pretended; sincerely felt or expressed;
Genuine emotion
Her interest in people was unfeigned
True grief
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Not synthetic or spurious; of real or natural origin;
Real mink
True gold
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Oct 19, 2023
True
Rightly so called;
True courage
A spirit which true men have always admired
A true friend
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Oct 19, 2023
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
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Oct 19, 2023
True
Determined with reference to the earth's axis rather than the magnetic poles;
True north is geographic north
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Possible to be treated as fact;
Tangible evidence
His brief time as Prime Minister brought few real benefits to the poor
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Oct 19, 2023
True
Having a legally established claim;
The legitimate heir
The true and lawful king
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Being value measured in terms of purchasing power;
Real prices
Real income
Real wages
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Oct 19, 2023
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
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
(of property) fixed or immovable;
Real property consists of land and buildings; real estate
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Real
Coinciding with reality;
Perceptual error...has a surprising resemblance to veridical perception
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Real
Founded on practical matters;
A recent graduate experiencing the real world for the first time
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Oct 19, 2023
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
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Oct 19, 2023
True
Faithful to an original or a standard.
The replica was true to the original design.
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Nov 17, 2023
Real
Relating to something as it is, not merely as it may be described or distinguished.
The movie is based on real events.
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Nov 17, 2023
True
Honest and not containing or telling any lies.
Her testimony was true and heartfelt.
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Nov 17, 2023
Real
Authentic, true to its nature.
Her smile was real, devoid of any pretense.
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Nov 17, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can 'real' refer to emotions?
Yes, emotions can be described as real if they are genuinely felt.
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Nov 17, 2023
Can a statement be true but not real?
Yes, if it's accurate but refers to hypothetical or abstract scenarios.
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Nov 17, 2023
Can something be real but not true?
Yes, if it exists physically but is based on false premises or information.
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Nov 17, 2023
What is the definition of 'true'?
'True' means being in accordance with fact or reality.
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Nov 17, 2023
Does 'real' always mean tangible?
Mostly, though it can refer to intangible yet genuine experiences or emotions.
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Nov 17, 2023
How is 'real' used in conversation?
It's used to affirm the actual existence or authenticity of something.
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Nov 17, 2023
Are dreams considered real?
Dreams are real as mental experiences, but not as physical realities.
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Nov 17, 2023
What does 'real' mean?
'Real' refers to something that actually exists or occurs in fact.
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Nov 17, 2023
Is 'true' used for facts only?
Primarily, but it also applies to principles, loyalty, and accuracy.
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Nov 17, 2023
Can a replica be real and true?
A replica can be real as an object but not true as an original.
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Are feelings always real?
Feelings are real in the sense that they are genuinely experienced.
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Nov 17, 2023
What contexts is 'true' used in?
It's used in contexts of truthfulness, accuracy, and fidelity.
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Can history be both real and true?
History is real in its occurrence and true if accurately recorded.
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Is authenticity the same as being real?
Authenticity implies being real, genuine, and not counterfeit or imitation.
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Can 'true' be subjective?
Truth can be subjective in personal beliefs, but 'true' generally refers to objective facts.
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Nov 17, 2023
How do 'real' and 'true' relate in philosophy?
In philosophy, 'real' concerns existence, while 'true' concerns knowledge and belief.
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Nov 17, 2023
Are myths considered true?
Myths may not be true in a factual sense but can hold symbolic truths.
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Nov 17, 2023
Does 'true' imply honesty?
Yes, it often implies honesty or faithfulness to facts or standards.
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Nov 17, 2023
Is 'real' subjective?
Perception of what is real can be subjective, but real itself denotes actual existence.
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Nov 17, 2023
Is fiction real or true?
Fiction is not real or true in the literal sense but can express true emotions or themes.
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Nov 17, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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