truther

plural truthers · alternative troofer

1. UScolloquialSomeone who tells the truth.First known use 20th c.

   A liar can't begin to start the riots a truther can.

   1915 July 14, Daily Leader

   Synonyms: truthsayer, truthteller

2. UScolloquialSomeone who believes that the US government was responsible for the 9/11 attacks.First known use 21st c.

   [signed] 9/11 Truther

   2005 February 14, "Gold9472", “BREAKING NEWS: Dick Cheney Behind 9/11 Attacks - MUST READ - PLEASE”, in talk.politics.theory (Usenet), retrieved 29 Jan 2019, message-ID <b3feba8653cd9959ed2080c10a1ed1d0@localhost.talkaboutgovernment.com>

   2 more examples

   Therefore, virtually every press release or statement about 9/11 should include a reference to the poll to show people that many Americans are 9/11 truthers who scoff at the 9/11 Commission as a fraud and that demand a real 9/11 investigation.

   2006, George Washington, Social Proof, George Washington's Blog, 26 May

   The Iranian president is even a "truther," insisting that there was a hidden hand behind Sept. 11, 2001. "Could it be planned and executed without coordination with intelligence and security services — or their extensive infiltration?" he mused in the letter to Bush.

   2009 September 20, David Ignatius, “Reading Iran by the Letter”, in The Washington Post

3. broadlyA conspiracy theorist who does not believe the accepted story about some significant event, fact, etc.First known use 21st c.

   For instance, "truthers" who believe in a US government conspiracy to destroy the pentagon

   2013, D. Wittkower, Philip K. Dick and Philosophy

   2 more examples

   Rather, believers of this conspiracy theory (known as Sandy Hook “truthers”) propose that the entire event might have been staged by Homeland Security and FEMA

   [2014, Lori Badura, Tell It Like It Isn't, page 226

   I am calling your attention to it because I think that we JFK truthers may be able to use this film to our advantage.

   2014, Ralph Cinque, “A review of the trailer of James Lambert's new film”, in alt.assassination.jfk (Usenet)

4. humorousslanglifestyleAn advocate, especially for a headcanon.