Truism: meaning, definitions and examples

A truism is a statement that is obviously true and adds nothing new or interesting. It is often used to describe something that is self-evident.

• It is a truism that the sun rises in the east.
• A truism in business is that customer satisfaction is key to success.

An axiom is a statement or proposition that is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true, often in the context of mathematics or logic.

• In geometry, it is an axiom that through any two points, there is exactly one straight line.
• One of the axioms of economics is that people act out of rational self-interest.

A platitude is a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful. It is often considered dull and uninspired.

• The politician’s speech was full of moral platitudes but lacked concrete proposals.
• Her response to the crisis was nothing more than a series of empty platitudes.

A cliché is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has become overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect. It often carries a negative connotation.

• His speech was filled with clichés about hard work and dedication.
• The movie script relied heavily on tired clichés and predictable tropes.