<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-10</periodOfReport><dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-09-15</dateOfOriginalSubmission>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000949956</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VERITY INC \DE\</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VRTY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001190630</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOONEY MICHAEL D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>894 ROSS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNYVALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94089</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Sr VP, North American Sales  </officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>14.69</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-10</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>60000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-10-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>60000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>60000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Through the filing of a Form 4 made on September 15, 2003, this option was originally reported as having been granted on September 11, 2003.  However, the approval of this option was given, and therefore this option was granted, on October 10, 2003, and the information set forth on this Form 4, including the exercise price thereof, has been amended accordingly.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Option vests in equal monthly installments over the forty-eight months following October 10, 2003.  </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michael D. Mooney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-10</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

