Meanings
plural dialetheisms
- uncountableusuallyhuman sciencesThe theory that statements can be both true and false at the same time and in the same sense. The opposite of the law of noncontradiction.First known use 1981
[It] is important to point out that endorsing dialetheism is not the same as rejecting logic or rational argumentation.
2005, Laurence Goldstein, Logic: key concepts in philosophy, page 158Synonyms: dialethism
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe theory that statements can be both true and false at the same time and in the same sense. The opposite of the law of noncontradiction.
Origin
- Ancient Greekἀλήθεια“truth”
- Englishdialetheism
Coined by Graham Priest and Richard Routley, from di- + Ancient Greek ἀλήθεια (alḗtheia, “truth”), in 1981.
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
dialetheism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dialetheism
“dialetheism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dialetheism. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dialetheism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dialetheism.
Source: dialetheism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.