True vs. Real: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 6, 2023
"True" relates to the veracity or accuracy of something, while "real" pertains to the existence or authenticity of an entity.
Key Differences
1. "True" often describes the correctness or validity of a statement or claim. For instance, when someone states a fact and it aligns with reality, it is termed "true." On the other hand, "real" emphasizes physical existence or tangible presence. Something that exists in the world, as opposed to an illusion or a fabrication, is considered "real."
2. When something is said to be "true," it implies it's free from falsehood. It is used to differentiate between what is right and what is mistaken or misleading. "Real," however, separates what is actual from what might be fictitious, imaginary, or unreal.
3. There are occasions where "true" and "real" may appear interchangeable, but context matters. For instance, one might say their feelings are "true," meaning sincere, or "real," implying genuine. Yet, describing a diamond, one might question if it's "real" (authentic) and not whether it's "true."
4. "True" also holds connotations of loyalty and consistency, as in staying "true" to oneself. "Real," on the contrary, often implies a deeper authenticity, like a "real" person showcasing genuine character and personality.
5. Both terms, "true" and "real," contrast with ideas of falsehood and unreality, respectively. While "true" frequently finds its opposite in "false," "real" typically stands against "fake" or "imaginary."
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Correct or accurate
Existing or authentic
Opposite
False
Fake or imaginary
Usage Context
Veracity of statements
Authenticity or existence of entities
Emotional Connotation
Sincerity, loyalty
Genuineness, tangible presence
Example Context
"Is that statement true?"
"Is that diamond real?"
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True and Real Definitions
True
In accordance with fact or reality.
Her story turned out to be true.
Real
Not imitation; genuine.
She wears real pearls.
True
Genuine; not counterfeit.
His love for her was true.
Real
Sincere or genuine in emotion.
His concern was real.
True
Accurate or exact.
The model was a true representation of the building.
Real
Being an actual thing; having objective existence.
The threat is very real.
True
Properly or correctly aligned or positioned.
Make sure the door is hung true.
Real
Not exaggerated; factual.
The movie is based on real events.
True
Consistent with fact or reality; not false or erroneous
The true cost.
Real
Being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verifiable existence
Real objects.
A real illness.
True
Not counterfeit; real or genuine
True gold.
Real
True and actual; not imaginary, alleged, or ideal
Real people, not ghosts.
A film based on real life.
True
Conforming to the characteristics or criteria of a group or type; typical
A true crab.
A true gentleman.
Real
Of or founded on practical matters and concerns
A recent graduate experiencing the real world for the first time.
True
Properly called
True value.
Real
Genuine and authentic; not artificial or spurious
Real mink.
Real humility.
True
Reliable; accurate
A true prophecy.
Real
Being no less than what is stated; worthy of the name
A real friend.
True
Faithful, as to a friend, vow, or cause; loyal.
Real
Free of pretense, falsehood, or affectation
Tourists hoping for a real experience on the guided tour.
True
(Archaic) Truthful, honest, or trustworthy.
Real
Not to be taken lightly; serious
In real trouble.
True
Sincerely felt or expressed; unfeigned
True grief.
Real
(Philosophy) Existing objectively in the world regardless of subjectivity or conventions of thought or language.
True
Rightful; legitimate
The true heir.
Real
Relating to, being, or having value reckoned by actual purchasing power
Real income.
Real growth.
True
Exactly conforming to a rule, standard, or pattern
Trying to sing true B.
Real
(Physics) Of, relating to, or being an image formed by light rays that converge in space.
True
Accurately shaped, fitted, or placed
Are the wheels true?.
Real
(Mathematics) Of, relating to, or being a real number.
True
Determined with reference to the earth's axis, not the magnetic poles
True north.
Real
(Law) Of or relating to stationary or fixed property, such as buildings or land.
True
Quick and exact in sensing and responding
A true ear.
Real
Very
I'm real sorry about that.
True
(Computers) Indicating one of two possible values taken by a variable in Boolean logic or a binary device.
Real
A thing or whole having actual existence. Often used with the
Theories beyond the realm of the real.
True
In accord with reality, fact, or truthfulness.
Real
(Mathematics) A real number.
True
Unswervingly; exactly
The archer aimed true.
Real
A silver coin formerly used in Spain and Latin America.
True
So as to conform to a type, standard, or pattern.
Real
A unit of currency formerly used in Portugal.
True
To position (something) so as to make it balanced, level, or square
Trued up the long planks.
Real
See Table at currency.
True
Truth or reality. Used with the.
Real
True, genuine, not merely nominal or apparent.
True
Proper alignment or adjustment
Out of true.
Real
Genuine, not artificial, counterfeit, or fake.
This is real leather.
True
(of a statement) Conforming to the actual state of reality or fact; factually correct.
This is a true story.
Real
Genuine, unfeigned, sincere.
These are real tears!
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
Actually being, existing, or occurring; not fictitious or imaginary.
A description of real life
True
Conforming to a rule or pattern; exact; accurate.
A true copy;
A true likeness of the original
Real
That has objective, physical existence.
No one has ever seen a real unicorn.
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
(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
Loyal, faithful.
He’s turned out to be a true friend.
Real
(economics) Relating to the result of the actions of rational agents; relating to neoclassical economic models as opposed to Keynesian models.
True
Genuine; legitimate, valid.
This is true Parmesan cheese.
The true king has returned!
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
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
(legal) Relating to immovable tangible property.
Real estate;
Real property
True
Accurate; following a path toward the target.
Real
Absolute, complete, utter.
This is a real problem.
True
(of a mechanical part) Correctly aligned or calibrated, without deviation.
Is my bike wheel true? It feels unsteady.
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
Fair, unbiased, not loaded.
Real
Really, very.
When I told him the truth, he got real mad.
True
(of a literary genre) based on actual historical events.
Real
A commodity; see realty.
True
(of shooting, throwing etc) Accurately.
This gun shoots true.
Real
(grammar) One of the three genders that the common gender can be separated into in the Scandinavian languages.
True
(archaic) Truthfully.
Real
(mathematics) A real number.
True
(uncountable) The state of being in alignment.
Real
(obsolete) A realist.
True
Truth.
Real
Former unit of currency of Spain and Spain's colonies.
True
A pledge or truce.
Real
A coin worth one real.
True
To straighten (of something that is supposed to be straight).
He trued the spokes of the bicycle wheel.
Real
A unit of currency used in Portugal and its colonies from 1430 until 1911, and in Brazil from 1790 until 1942.
True
To make even, level, symmetrical, or accurate, align; adjust.
We spent all night truing up the report.
Real
A coin worth one real.
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
A unit of currency used in Brazil since 1994. Symbol: R$.
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
A coin worth one real.
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
A former small Spanish silver coin; also, a denomination of money of account, formerly the unit of the Spanish monetary system.
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 realist.
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
Royal; regal; kingly.
True
In accordance with truth; truly.
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
Proper alignment; the property possessed by something that is in correct or proper alignment;
Out of true
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
Make level, square, balanced, or concentric;
True up the cylinder of an engine
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
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
Having an assignable arithmetical or numerical value or meaning; not imaginary.
True
Not synthetic or spurious; of real or natural origin;
Real mink
True gold
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
Conforming to definitive criteria;
The horseshoe crab is not a true crab
Pythagoras was the first true mathematician
Real
Any rational or irrational number
True
Accurately placed or thrown;
His aim was true
He was dead on target
Real
An old small silver Spanish coin
True
Devoted (sometimes fanatically) to a cause or concept or truth;
True believers bonded together against all who disagreed with them
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
Expressing or given to expressing the truth;
A true statement
Gave truthful testimony
A truthful person
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
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
Being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something;
Her actual motive
A literal solitude like a desert
A genuine dilemma
True
Not pretended; sincerely felt or expressed;
Genuine emotion
Her interest in people was unfeigned
True grief
Real
Not synthetic or spurious; of real or natural origin;
Real mink
True gold
True
Rightly so called;
True courage
A spirit which true men have always admired
A true friend
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
Determined with reference to the earth's axis rather than the magnetic poles;
True north is geographic north
Real
Possible to be treated as fact;
Tangible evidence
His brief time as Prime Minister brought few real benefits to the poor
True
Having a legally established claim;
The legitimate heir
The true and lawful king
Real
Being value measured in terms of purchasing power;
Real prices
Real income
Real wages
True
In tune; accurate in pitch;
A true note
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
True
Accurately fitted; level;
The window frame isn't quite true
Real
(of property) fixed or immovable;
Real property consists of land and buildings; real estate
True
Reliable as a basis for action;
A true prophesy
Real
Coinciding with reality;
Perceptual error...has a surprising resemblance to veridical perception
True
As acknowledged;
True, she is the smartest in her class
Real
Founded on practical matters;
A recent graduate experiencing the real world for the first time
True
Loyal or faithful.
He was true to his promises.
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
Actually existing as a tangible or physical entity.
Ghosts are not real.
FAQs
Is "true love" the same as "real love"?
Both imply genuine affection, but "true love" often connotes destiny or fate.
Is a "true story" always a "real story"?
A true story is based on real events, but aspects might be dramatized or altered.
Can an emotion be both true and real?
Yes, an emotion can be true (sincere) and real (genuinely felt).
Does "true north" mean the same as "real north"?
"True north" refers to the Earth's geographic North Pole, while "real north" isn't a standard term.
Is a "real diamond" always "true" in quality?
A real diamond exists, but its quality can vary; not all are "true" (perfect) in quality.
Can a work of fiction have "true" elements?
Yes, fiction can have elements based on true (accurate) events or facts.
Can you use "true" and "real" interchangeably?
Sometimes they overlap, but context matters; "true" focuses on accuracy, "real" on existence.
What is the opposite of a "true statement"?
The opposite is a "false statement."
Can something be real but not true?
Yes, a statement might be about a real object but not be true in its description.
Is a "true friend" the same as a "real friend"?
Both imply loyalty and authenticity, but "true friend" might emphasize unwavering loyalty.
Can a "real event" be portrayed in a way that's not "true"?
Yes, real events can be depicted or described inaccurately or with exaggeration.
Can something "real" be intangible?
Yes, emotions or ideas can be real (genuine) yet intangible.
If something is "real," is it always true in its portrayal?
No, real objects or events can be misrepresented or misunderstood.
What makes a statement "true"?
A statement is true if it aligns with facts or reality.
Is "staying true" the same as "being real"?
"Staying true" implies consistency to oneself or values; "being real" implies authenticity.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
