<PAGE>   1
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 6, 1998
                                                     Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  ------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                  ------------

                                  VERITY, INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                                                          <C>
        Delaware                                                          77-0182779
------------------------                                     ------------------------------------
(State of Incorporation)                                     (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
</TABLE>

                                  ------------

                                 894 Ross Drive
                           Sunnyvale, California 94089
                    ----------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                  ------------

                             1995 Stock Option Plan
                       1996 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan
              1997 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan for Verity Canada
              -----------------------------------------------------
                            (Full title of the plans)

                                  ------------

                                James E. Ticehust
                  Vice President, Administration and Controller
                                  Verity, Inc.
                                 894 Ross Drive
                               Sunnyvale, CA 94089
                                 (408) 541-1500
            ---------------------------------------------------------
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                                  ------------

                                   Copies to:
                             Timothy J. Moore, Esq.
                               Cooley Godward LLP
                              Five Palo Alto Square
                               3000 El Camino Real
                               Palo Alto, CA 94306

                                  ------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================
                                                               PROPOSED        PROPOSED MAXIMUM    
 TITLE OF SECURITIES                  AMOUNT TO BE        MAXIMUM OFFERING       AGGREGREGATE           AMOUNT OF
  TO BE REGISTERED                    REGISTERED(1)      PRICE PER SHARE(2)    OFFERING PRICE(2)    REGISTRATION FEE
<S>                                     <C>                    <C>               <C>                    <C>
Stock Options and Common Stock          1,750,000              $11.25            $19,687,500            $5,473.13
(par value $.001)
====================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)       750,000 shares to be registered pursuant to the 1995 Stock Option
          Plan, 800,000 shares to be registered pursuant to the 1996
          Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan and 200,000 shares to be registered
          pursuant to the 1997 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan for Verity Canada.
(2)       Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
          registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c). The price per share and
          aggregate offering price are based upon the closing price of
          Registrant's Common Stock on November 2, 1998 as reported on the
          Nasdaq National Market.

================================================================================

<PAGE>   2

                    INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF CONTENTS OF
                REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 NO. 333-26600,
                REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 NO. 333-26869
              AND REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 NO. 333-44877


     The contents of Registration Statement on Form S-8 No. 333-26600 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25, 1996, Registration Statement
on Form S-8 No. 333-26869 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 12, 1997 and Registration Statement on Form S-8 No. 333-44877 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on January 23, 1998 are incorporated by
reference herein.


                                    EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
-------
<S>                <C>
5.1                Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP

23.1               Consent of Independent Accountants

23.2               Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to 
                   this Registration Statement

24.1               Power of Attorney is contained on the signature page.
</TABLE>


                                       1.

<PAGE>   3

                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Sunnyvale, State of California, on November 6, 1998.


                                       VERITY, INC.


                                       By  /s/ James E. Ticehurst
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Vice President, 
                                               Administration and Controller
                                             -----------------------------------



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Gary J. Sbona and James E. Ticehurst, and
each or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.


                                       2.

<PAGE>   4

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          SIGNATURE                           TITLE                           DATE
------------------------------     ------------------------------       ----------------
<S>                                <C>                                  <C>

/s/  Gary J. Sbona                 President, Chief Executive           November 6, 1998
------------------------------     Officer and Director                  
    Gary J. Sbona                                      


/s/ James E. Ticehurst             Vice President, Administration       November 6, 1998
------------------------------     and Controller
    James E. Ticehurst             


/s/ Steven M. Krausz               Director                             November 6, 1998
------------------------------                                                          
    Steven M. Krausz


/s/ Stephen A. MacDonald           Director                             November 6, 1998
------------------------------                                                               
    Stephen A. MacDonald


/s/ Charles P. Waite, Jr.          Director                             November 6, 1998
------------------------------
    Charles P. Waite, Jr.
</TABLE>


                                       3.

<PAGE>   5

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT                                                                           SEQUENTIAL
NUMBER                               DESCRIPTION                                  PAGE NUMBER
<S>            <C>                                                                   <C>
  5.1          Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP
 23.1          Consent of Independent Accountants
 23.2          Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to 
               this Registration Statement
 24.1          Power of Attorney is contained on the signature page.
</TABLE>


                                       4.
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 9739}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "VERITY INC \\DE\\", "cik": "0000949956", "assigned-sic": "7374", "irs-number": "770182779", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0531"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-66913", "film-number": "98739672"}, "business-address": {"street1": "894 ROSS AVE", "city": "SUNNYVALE", "state": "CA", "zip": "94089", "phone": "4155411500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "894 ROSS AVENUE", "city": "SUNNYVALE", "state": "CA", "zip": "94089"}}
1
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 6, 1998
                                                     Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  ------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                  ------------

                                  VERITY, INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware                                                          77-0182779
------------------------                                     ------------------------------------
(State of Incorporation)                                     (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
------------

                                 894 Ross Drive
                           Sunnyvale, California 94089
                    ----------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                  ------------

                             1995 Stock Option Plan
                       1996 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan
              1997 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan for Verity Canada
              -----------------------------------------------------
                            (Full title of the plans)

                                  ------------

                                James E. Ticehust
                  Vice President, Administration and Controller
                                  Verity, Inc.
                                 894 Ross Drive
                               Sunnyvale, CA 94089
                                 (408) 541-1500
            ---------------------------------------------------------
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                                  ------------

                                   Copies to:
                             Timothy J. Moore, Esq.
                               Cooley Godward LLP
                              Five Palo Alto Square
                               3000 El Camino Real
                               Palo Alto, CA 94306

                                  ------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================================
                                                               PROPOSED        PROPOSED MAXIMUM    
 TITLE OF SECURITIES                  AMOUNT TO BE        MAXIMUM OFFERING       AGGREGREGATE           AMOUNT OF
  TO BE REGISTERED                    REGISTERED(1)      PRICE PER SHARE(2)    OFFERING PRICE(2)    REGISTRATION FEE
Stock Options and Common Stock          1,750,000              $11.25            $19,687,500            $5,473.13
(par value $.001)
====================================================================================================================
(1)       750,000 shares to be registered pursuant to the 1995 Stock Option
          Plan, 800,000 shares to be registered pursuant to the 1996
          Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan and 200,000 shares to be registered
          pursuant to the 1997 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan for Verity Canada.
(2)       Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
          registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c). The price per share and
          aggregate offering price are based upon the closing price of
          Registrant's Common Stock on November 2, 1998 as reported on the
          Nasdaq National Market.

================================================================================
2

                    INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF CONTENTS OF
                REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 NO. 333-26600,
                REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 NO. 333-26869
              AND REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 NO. 333-44877

     The contents of Registration Statement on Form S-8 No. 333-26600 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25, 1996, Registration Statement
on Form S-8 No. 333-26869 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 12, 1997 and Registration Statement on Form S-8 No. 333-44877 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on January 23, 1998 are incorporated by
reference herein.

                                    EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
-------
5.1                Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP

23.1               Consent of Independent Accountants

23.2               Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to 
                   this Registration Statement

24.1               Power of Attorney is contained on the signature page.
1.
3

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Sunnyvale, State of California, on November 6, 1998.

                                       VERITY, INC.

                                       By  /s/ James E. Ticehurst
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Vice President, 
                                               Administration and Controller
                                             -----------------------------------

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Gary J. Sbona and James E. Ticehurst, and
each or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

                                       2.
4

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE                           TITLE                           DATE
------------------------------     ------------------------------       ----------------
/s/  Gary J. Sbona                 President, Chief Executive           November 6, 1998
------------------------------     Officer and Director                  
    Gary J. Sbona                                      

/s/ James E. Ticehurst             Vice President, Administration       November 6, 1998
------------------------------     and Controller
    James E. Ticehurst             

/s/ Steven M. Krausz               Director                             November 6, 1998
------------------------------                                                          
    Steven M. Krausz

/s/ Stephen A. MacDonald           Director                             November 6, 1998
------------------------------                                                               
    Stephen A. MacDonald

/s/ Charles P. Waite, Jr.          Director                             November 6, 1998
------------------------------
    Charles P. Waite, Jr.
3.
5

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT                                                                           SEQUENTIAL
NUMBER                               DESCRIPTION                                  PAGE NUMBER
5.1          Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP
 23.1          Consent of Independent Accountants
 23.2          Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to 
               this Registration Statement
 24.1          Power of Attorney is contained on the signature page.
4.