falsify

[ fawl-suh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

, fal·si·fied, fal·si·fy·ing.

1. to make false or incorrect, especially so as to deceive:

   to falsify income-tax reports.

2. to alter fraudulently.
3. to represent falsely:

   He falsified the history of his family to conceal his humble origins.

4. to show or prove to be false; disprove:

   to falsify a theory.

   Synonyms: controvert, confute, refute, discredit, rebut

verb (used without object)

, fal·si·fied, fal·si·fy·ing.

1. to make false statements.

falsify

/ ˈfɔːlsɪˌfaɪ; ˌfɔːlsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

verb

1. to make (a report, evidence, accounts, etc) false or inaccurate by alteration, esp in order to deceive
2. to prove false; disprove

Derived Forms

• falsification, noun
• ˈfalsiˌfier, noun
• ˈfalsiˌfiable, adjective

Other Words From

• fal·si·fi·a·ble [fawl-s, uh, -, fahy, -, uh, -b, uh, l] adjective
• fal·si·fi·ca·tion [fawl-s, uh, -fi-, key, -sh, uh, n], noun
• fal·si·fi·er noun
• un·fal·si·fied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of falsify¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English falsifien, from Middle French falsifier, from Late Latin falsificāre; false, -ify

Word History and Origins

Origin of falsify¹

C15: from Old French falsifier , from Late Latin falsificāre , from Latin falsus false + facere to make

Synonym Study

See misrepresent.

Example Sentences

Trump had been scheduled to be sentenced next week, on Nov. 26, for a conviction on 34 felony counts relating to falsified business records concerning hush money paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

From Salon

In May, Trump was convicted on 34 charges of falsifying business records, stemming from an attempt to cover up a potential sex scandal ahead of his first presidential victory in 2016.

From BBC

For a full week, Dr Tandon endured more 700 questions on her life and work, a staged trial, falsified court documents, and promises of a digital “bail” in exchange for her life savings.

From BBC

“Clearly there is fraud taking place,” he wrote, adding, “We cannot be falsifying government documents.”

From New York Times

In May, a New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records.

From BBC

Related Words

• contradict
• contravene
• counterfeit
• deceive
• distort
• exaggerate
• fake
• forge
• misstate
• pervert
• tamper with