false

[ fawls ]

adjective

, fals·er, fals·est.

1. not true or correct; erroneous:

   a false statement.

   Synonyms: untrue, wrong, incorrect, mistaken

2. uttering or declaring what is untrue:

   a false witness.

   Synonyms: mendacious, lying, untruthful

3. not faithful or loyal; treacherous:

   a false friend.

   Synonyms: hypocritical, traitorous, perfidious, inconstant, unfaithful, disloyal, disingenuous, insincere

4. tending to deceive or mislead; deceptive:

   a false impression.

   Synonyms: fallacious, misleading

5. not genuine; counterfeit.

   Synonyms: artificial, bogus, spurious

6. based on mistaken, erroneous, or inconsistent impressions, ideas, or facts:

   false pride.

7. used as a substitute or supplement, especially temporarily:

   false supports for a bridge.

8. Biology. having a superficial resemblance to something that properly bears the name:

   the false acacia.

9. not properly, accurately, or honestly made, done, or adjusted:

   a false balance.

10. inaccurate in pitch, as a musical note.

adverb

1. dishonestly; faithlessly; treacherously:

   Did he speak false against me?

false

/ fɔːls /

adjective

1. not in accordance with the truth or facts
2. irregular or invalid

   a false start

3. untruthful or lying

   a false account

4. not genuine, real, or natural; artificial; fake

   false eyelashes

5. being or intended to be misleading or deceptive

   a false rumour

6. disloyal or treacherous

   a false friend

7. based on mistaken or irrelevant ideas or facts

   a false argument

   false pride

8. prenominal (esp of plants) superficially resembling the species specified

   false hellebore

9. serving to supplement or replace, often temporarily

   a false keel

10. music
    1. (of a note, interval, etc) out of tune
    2. (of the interval of a perfect fourth or fifth) decreased by a semitone
    3. (of a cadence) interrupted or imperfect

adverb

1. in a false or dishonest manner (esp in the phrase play ( someone ) false )

Derived Forms

• ˈfalsely, adverb
• ˈfalseness, noun

Other Words From

• falsely adverb
• falseness noun
• half-false adjective
• quasi-false adjective
• quasi-falsely adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of false¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English fals, from Latin falsus “feigned, false,” originally past participle of fallere “to deceive”; reinforced by or reborrowed from Anglo-French, Old French fals (feminine false ), from Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of false¹

Old English fals , from Latin falsus , from fallere to deceive

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. play someone false, to betray someone; be treacherous or faithless.

More idioms and phrases containing false

• lull into (false sense of security)
• play false
• ring false

Synonym Study

False, sham, counterfeit agree in referring to something that is not genuine. False is used mainly of imitations of concrete objects; it sometimes implies an intent to deceive: false teeth; false hair. Sham is rarely used of concrete objects and usually has the suggestion of intent to deceive: sham title; sham tears. Counterfeit always has the implication of cheating; it is used particularly of spurious imitation of coins, paper money, etc.

Example Sentences

Back in Germany, though, the rise of the Nazis is what sets Bonhoeffer on his Christian resistance path, disturbed by the country’s sudden fealty to a false god stoking “rumor and rage.”

From Los Angeles Times

“If the things in the House Ethics report were true, I would be under indictment and probably in a prison cell, but of course, they're false,” he said.

From Salon

The paragon of false humility, Bellini reminds everyone he really doesn’t want to be named pope . . . even as he passionately campaigns for the job.

From Salon

Bondi, a longtime Trump ally, was part of his legal team during his first impeachment trial and when it made false claims that the 2020 election had been stolen from him due to voter fraud.

From BBC

The hawala owner in Erbil denied offering to take money to help our undercover reporter travel to the UK on a false passport.

From BBC

Related Words

• bogus
• deceitful
• dishonest
• distorted
• erroneous
• fake
• fanciful
• faulty
• fictitious
• fraudulent
• improper
• inaccurate
• incorrect
• invalid
• misleading
• mistaken
• phony
• specious
• spurious
• unfounded