The motto for the TruTV channel has always bugged me: Not reality, actuality.
At least from online dictionaries I have looked up these words on, they seem equivalent. The definitions even reference one another.
ac·tu·al·i·ty
- The state or fact of being actual; reality.
- Actual conditions or facts.
re·al·i·ty
- The quality or state of being actual or true.
- One, such as a person, an entity, or an event, that is actual:
- The totality of all things possessing actuality, existence, or essence.
- That which exists objectively and in fact.
Is this motto just silly, or is there really some connotation to these words that I am not aware of that makes them distinct?
asked Sep 5, 2010 at 20:24
1
I’m aware of no distinction between the two. It appears that the folks at truTv are trying to distance themselves from «reality tv.»
truTV isn’t reality, its new slogan
states. It’s actuality.«Reality has a connotation of not
being real, of being phony,» said Marc
Juris, executive vice president and
general manager of truTV. «We felt
that because [our programming] was
real, we couldn’t call it reality.»
From http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/television/2004097354_trutv01.html
answered Sep 5, 2010 at 21:56
J.T. GrimesJ.T. Grimes
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6
I believe there is a distinction quite apparent in journalism:
In sum, «actuality» is regarded as a fundamental criterion of news selection that governs both the mass media’s and the individuals’ construction of reality.
The shared «actuality» among social members, I suppose, would create a feeling of being present and a moment of participating in a common reality, and, therefore, function as the basis for making up that common reality.
Considering that:
truTV is television’s destination for real-life stories told from an exciting and dramatic first-person perspective and features high-stakes, action-packed originals that give viewers access to places and situations they can’t normally experience.
, one can understand the goal of TruTv for reporting an «actuality» in order to help the viewers to rebuild the reality of the reported situations.
answered Sep 5, 2010 at 21:54
VonCVonC
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When we see things the way they actually are, this is reality.
Actuality is stronger than reality in that it is something abstract, a fact, that existed even before we knew it was there. It never has been subject to being true or false. Whereas what I see as reality now may have been seen as imaginary before.
-
The following dialog may make my point clear:
-Do you see that black car over there?
—Actually, it is not black, it is blue.
-Let me see. Oh yeah, you are right, it really is blue.
answered Sep 6, 2010 at 9:47
DiaDia
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This is a distinction mobilized by certain philosophers like Gilles Deleuze, who uses a phrase from Bergson to define what he calls the ‘virtual’: he says it is «real without being actual.»
However, it is admittedly a somewhat obscure or at the least fairly subtle distinction, and in common usage the difference is minimal and would relate to context.
(In the case of the slogan it is almost certain they are simply referring to reality television, not reality as an ontological principle.)
answered Mar 6, 2011 at 20:53
All the shows are based on real situations with actors and scripts. The slogan is a play on words. It admits the channel is filled with fake shows. It says it is not reality and their actuality word they use is a play on words.
Notice the word act is the first three letters in actuality. So I think the phrase is straight up admitting what the channel is; NOT reality, ACTuality.
answered Nov 15, 2012 at 5:17
2
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Generality is, indeed, an indispensable ingredient of reality; for mere individual existence or actuality without any regularity whatever is a nullity. Chaos is pure nothing.
Charles Sanders Peirce
PRONUNCIATION OF ACTUALITY
GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF ACTUALITY
Actuality is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.
WHAT DOES ACTUALITY MEAN IN ENGLISH?
Potentiality and actuality
In philosophy, potentiality and actuality are principles of a dichotomy which Aristotle used to analyze motion, causality, ethics, and physiology in his Physics, Metaphysics, Ethics and De Anima. The concept of potentiality, in this context, generally refers to any «possibility» that a thing can be said to have. Aristotle did not consider all possibilities the same, and emphasized the importance of those that become real of their own accord when conditions are right and nothing stops them. Actuality, in contrast to potentiality, is the motion, change or activity that represents an exercise or fulfillment of a possibility, when a possibility becomes real in the fullest sense. These concepts, in modified forms, remained very important into the middle ages, influencing the development of medieval theology in several ways. Going further into modern times, while the understanding of nature implied by the dichotomy lost importance, the terminology has found new uses, developing indirectly from the old. This is most obvious in words like «energy» and «dynamic» but also in examples such as the biological concept of an «entelechy».
Definition of actuality in the English dictionary
The definition of actuality in the dictionary is true existence; reality. Other definition of actuality is a fact or condition that is real.
WORDS THAT RHYME WITH ACTUALITY
Synonyms and antonyms of actuality in the English dictionary of synonyms
SYNONYMS OF «ACTUALITY»
The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «actuality» and belong to the same grammatical category.
Translation of «actuality» into 25 languages
TRANSLATION OF ACTUALITY
Find out the translation of actuality to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of actuality from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «actuality» in English.
Translator English — Chinese
现状
1,325 millions of speakers
Translator English — Spanish
actualidad
570 millions of speakers
Translator English — Hindi
वास्तविकता
380 millions of speakers
Translator English — Arabic
الواقع
280 millions of speakers
Translator English — Russian
Актуальность
278 millions of speakers
Translator English — Portuguese
realidade
270 millions of speakers
Translator English — Bengali
বাস্তবতা
260 millions of speakers
Translator English — French
actualité
220 millions of speakers
Translator English — Malay
Sebenarnya
190 millions of speakers
Translator English — German
Wirklichkeit
180 millions of speakers
Translator English — Japanese
現実
130 millions of speakers
Translator English — Korean
실제로
85 millions of speakers
Translator English — Javanese
Actuality
85 millions of speakers
Translator English — Vietnamese
thực tế
80 millions of speakers
Translator English — Tamil
உண்மையில்
75 millions of speakers
Translator English — Marathi
वास्तविकता
75 millions of speakers
Translator English — Turkish
aktüalite
70 millions of speakers
Translator English — Italian
attualità
65 millions of speakers
Translator English — Polish
aktualności
50 millions of speakers
Translator English — Ukrainian
актуальність
40 millions of speakers
Translator English — Romanian
actualitate
30 millions of speakers
Translator English — Greek
επικαιρότητα
15 millions of speakers
Translator English — Afrikaans
aktualiteitsprogram
14 millions of speakers
Translator English — Swedish
aktualitet
10 millions of speakers
Translator English — Norwegian
Aktualitet
5 millions of speakers
Trends of use of actuality
TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «ACTUALITY»
The term «actuality» is quite widely used and occupies the 35.521 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
FREQUENCY
Quite widely used
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «actuality» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of actuality
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «actuality».
FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «ACTUALITY» OVER TIME
The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «actuality» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «actuality» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.
Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about actuality
8 QUOTES WITH «ACTUALITY»
Famous quotes and sentences with the word actuality.
A picture of me as this super affable sales guy gets painted, but in actuality, I’m pretty driven by hard work and love working with teams. What people discount is, I grew up in a very small blue-collar town in Massachusetts and have basically scrapped my way career wise.
It’s good for everyone to understand that they are to love their enemies, simply because your enemies show you things about yourself you need to change. So in actuality enemies are friends in reverse.
It is the artist’s function not to copy but to synthesise: to eliminate from that gross confusion of actuality which is his raw material whatever is accidental, idle, irrelevant, and select for perpetuation that only which is appropriate and immortal.
The actuality of all of material Nature is therefore kept out of action and that of all corporeality along with it, including the actuality of my body, the body of the cognizing subject.
Poetry, even when apparently most fantastic, is always a revolt against artifice, a revolt, in a sense, against actuality.
It will always be the same possibilities, in sum or on the average, that go on repeating themselves until a man comes along who does not value the actuality above idea. It is he who first gives the new possibilities their meaning, their direction, and he awakens them.
Generality is, indeed, an indispensable ingredient of reality; for mere individual existence or actuality without any regularity whatever is a nullity. Chaos is pure nothing.
If you’re a believer, God is not a thought-experiment requiring a special sub-creation to be tried out in. He’s an actual, er, actuality already, embedded in a necessary and true story about guilt, hope, and liberty. I don’t want C. S. Lewis doing his resourceful best to render Him as a fabulous special effect.
10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «ACTUALITY»
Discover the use of actuality in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to actuality and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Actuality, Possibility, and Worlds
Actuality, Possibility and Worlds is an exploration of the Aristotelian account that sees possibilities as grounded in causal powers.
2
Actuality: Life in the Real World
Actuality is the science of our existence on a practical basis. After all, why shouldn’t the Truth make practical sense to us? This collection of essays covers the basic elements of Actuality.
3
Name and Actuality in Early Chinese Thought
Makeham (Chinese, U. of Adelaide, South Australia) offers the first western study of the philosophy of Confucian Xu Gan (170- 217).
4
The Actuality of Adorno: Critical Essays on Adorno and the …
Demonstrates the relevance and power of the social critic’s work to the state of critical social theory today and discusses its significance for contemporary postmodern theory, with chapters on his aesthetic experimentalism and the …
5
Aristotle’s Theory of Actuality
This is an attack on Aristotle showing that his misplaced drive toward the consistent application of his actualistic ontology (denying the reality of all potential things) resulted in many of his major theses being essentially vacuous.
6
Ways of Being: Potentiality and Actuality in Aristotle’s …
Charlotte Witt continues her highly regarded exploration of Aristotle’s metaphysics in a book devoted to the ontological distinction between potentiality and actuality.
7
Myth, Ethos, and Actuality: Official Art in Fifth-century …
The book looks in new ways at how the patrons and planners sought to manipulate viewer response through the selective presentation or repackaging of mythic traditions.
8
Aristotle’s Metaphysics [theta] 1-3: On the Essence and …
First published in German in 1981 as volume 33 of Heidegger’s Collected Works, this book translates a lecture course he presented at the University of Freiburg in 1931.
9
The Actuality of Atonement: A Study of Metaphor, Rationality …
In a reissue of a masterly examination of both the Christian doctrine of Atonement and the nature and working of theological language, Professor Gunton reassesses the doctrine and the language in which it is expressed in the light of modern …
10
Particulars, Actuality, and Identity Over Time
First Published in 1999. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «ACTUALITY»
Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term actuality is used in the context of the following news items.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, play-action passing isn’t always the …
When the defense doesn’t have to stop the run, faking the run won’t cause much change in the defense, in all actuality it is nothing more than … «Behind the Steel Curtain, Jul 15»
Have You Seen This Musical?
In actuality, many of the large-scale lost musicals in recent memory were producer-driven, meaning one or more people came up with an idea … «TheaterMania.com, Jul 15»
Sunglass Lens Options
In actuality, they’re a functional element of the sight-fishing objective. “When you apply that flat bill it makes a solid seal across the top of those … «Scout, Jul 15»
Bruce Bisset: False hope won’t help the fallen
In actuality, only about 10 per cent of people have a strong physical addiction to their drug of choice. But this does not mean that for the … «New Zealand Herald, Jul 15»
Uprisings, but not Reawakenings
As activists of the African Renaissance, and given both our experience and actuality, we have to ask ourselves whether, in this regard, … «Independent Online, Jul 15»
Rat Race: How does the Cat Manipulate the Mouse?
In actuality: they love having the other around! What Others Are Reading. Why Chinese Men Don’t Go Bald — You’ll Never Believe This. «Empire State Tribune, Jul 15»
We gained a second. Did you feel it?
Like, all this time, people who claim they can look at the sun and tell what time it is, when in actuality, it’s the moon that is controlling the time. «Staunton News Leader, Jul 15»
Column: In defense of the Pacheco Law
… but McAnneny’s claims here challenge that: The $2.2 billion in available MBTA funds she speaks of was, in actuality, authorization — not real, … «The Salem News, Jul 15»
Inner Conflict Gives Way to Antagonism
The myth, the ideal, is unreal; it is a self-projected escape, it has no actuality. The actual is what you are. What you are is much more important … «The New Indian Express, Jul 15»
To Your Health: Decision to Donate Cord Blood Can Help Save Lives
Certainly this may seem like a significant decision to make, but in all actuality, it is quite a simple process. You may wonder if donating cord … «State College News, Jul 15»
REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Actuality [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/actuality>. Apr 2023 ».
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Discover all that is hidden in the words on 
1
: the quality or state of being actual
2
: something that is actual : fact, reality
possible risks which have been seized upon as actualities—
T. S. Eliot
Synonyms
Example Sentences
The actuality was quite different from the theory.
the actuality of the Abominable Snowman is not taken seriously by scientists
Recent Examples on the Web
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In actuality, the reason for Fleiss’s departure was an investigation into allegations of racial discrimination, per a Variety report.
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In actuality, healthcare providers developed the keto diet to treat epilepsy in the 1920s.1 Still, people have been using the keto diet as a weight-loss plan since then.
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In actuality, the screams are coming from cheap Halloween decor in pursuit of a good jump-scare.
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In actuality, the Neanderthals’ unique anatomy allowed the species to survive the coldest conditions of the Ice Age in Europe.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘actuality.’ 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 actualite «capacity for action, effective power,» borrowed from Medieval Latin āctuālitāt-, āctuālitās, from Late Latin āctuālis actual + Latin -itāt-, -itās -ity
First Known Use
1587, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of actuality was
in 1587
Dictionary Entries Near actuality
Cite this Entry
“Actuality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actuality. Accessed 13 Apr. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on actuality
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7 Apr 2023
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
Reality vs Actuality
Although, Reality and Actuality are two words that are often confused due their proximity as far as their meanings are concerned; there is a subtle difference between Actuality and Reality. First let us define the two words. Reality can be defined as the one that is existent from time immemorial. On the other hand, Actuality can be defined as the actual conditions or facts. The main difference between reality and actuality can be summed up as reality is an experience whereas actuality is a perception. This article attempts to clarify the difference between the two words while elaborating on the two words for a better understanding.
What is Reality?
Reality can be understood as the one that is existent from time immemorial. The reality is an experience. In other words, you can say that reality is what we experience on a regular basis. Sometimes an object that is unreal may appear to be real, according to the metaphysical experience. For example, a rope may appear like a serpent due to the lack of sufficient amount of light in a room. Such a kind of superimposed reality is based on illusion.
The reality is sometimes based on illusory knowledge where you take something unreal to be real as a kind of momentary experience. Then the truth is established about reality. Finally, the illusory knowledge goes. The truth gets established. Actuality, on the other hand, is somewhat different from reality.
Virtual Reality
What is Actuality?
Actuality can be explained as the actual conditions or facts. Actuality is perception. Actuality is what we see on a daily basis. Actuality is not at all based on illusory knowledge. When you say truth gets established, it is indeed the actuality that gets established. It is now clear that actuality remains the same forever. The reality is thus the subset of actuality.
Let us comprehend the difference between reality and actuality in this manner. The reality is sometimes described as the totality of all things possessing actuality, existence, or essence. Hence, it can be said that reality is that which exists objectively and in fact. Actuality is, on the other hand, described often as Actual conditions or facts. It is, in fact, the state of remaining in the actual condition.
You would often find that the word ‘actuality’ makes you think of reality in the general sense. This only points out the fact that actuality and reality are two words that are very closely knit with each other. Now let us summarize the difference as follows.
Definitions of Reality and Actuality:
Reality: Reality is the one that is existent from time immemorial.
Actuality: Actuality can be explained as the actual conditions or facts.
Characteristics of Reality and Actuality:
Nature:
Reality: Reality is an experience.
Actuality: Actuality is a perception.
Illusory Knowledge:
Reality: Reality is sometimes based on illusory knowledge
Actuality: Actuality is not at all based on illusory knowledge.
Factual Conditions:
Reality: Reality can be considered as established in an objective manner.
Actuality: Actuality is often described as Actual conditions or facts.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Worldskin-01” by MoBen – Own work. [CC BY 3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
2.”Flickr – …trialsanderrors – The beach at bathing time, Trouville, Normandy, France, ca. 1895” by Unknown – Original image: Photochrom print (color photo lithograph)Reproduction number: LC-DIG-ppmsc-05383 from Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Photochrom Prints Collection [Public Domain] via Wikimedia Commons –
действительность, реальность, факты
существительное ↓
- действительность; реальность
- pl. подлинные условия, обстоятельства; факты
to adjust to the actualities of life — приспосабливаться к условиям /к прозе/ жизни 
- документальность
- документальный фильм (тж. actuality film)
- тлв., радио репортаж с места события; прямая передача
wartime actuality shots — военная кинохроника
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
the grim actualities of prison life — суровая действительность тюремной жизни
a hope that progressed from possibility to actuality — надежда, прошедшая путь от вероятности до реальности
actuality effects — натурные шумы
actuality film — документальный кинофильм; документальный фильм
actuality program — репортаж с места события
actuality programme — телерепортаж с места события; радио- с места события
data actuality — актуальность данных
in actuality — в действительности
information actuality — достоверность информации; актуальность информации; подлинность информации
not the actuality — не так
Примеры с переводом
It exists in dreams rather than actuality.
Это существует скорее в мечтах, чем в реальности.
The actuality was quite different from the theory.
Действительность сильно отличалась от данной теории.
In actuality, he seems to have made very little effort to do so.
В действительности он, по-видимому, приложил очень мало усилий, чтобы сделать это.
It exists in dreams rather than in actuality.
Это существует скорее в мечтах, чем в реальности.
The actuality of the Abominable Snowman is not taken seriously by scientists.
Существование «снежного человека» не воспринимается учёными всерьёз.
In actuality, it’s much more complex than that (=used when talking about what a situation is really like).
В действительности, всё гораздо сложнее (так говорят, когда речь заходит о действительном положении дел).
Примеры, ожидающие перевода
…would like to see a colony on the moon as an actuality and not merely a potentiality… 
Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке ☰, напротив примера.
Формы слова
noun
ед. ч.(singular): actuality
мн. ч.(plural): actualities