false
- not true or correct; erroneous: a false statement.
- uttering or declaring what is untrue: a false witness.
- not faithful or loyal; treacherous: a false friend.
- tending to deceive or mislead; deceptive: a false impression.
- not genuine; counterfeit.
- based on mistaken, erroneous, or inconsistent impressions, ideas, or facts: false pride.
- used as a substitute or supplement, especially temporarily: false supports for a bridge.
- Biology. having a superficial resemblance to something that properly bears the name: the false acacia.
- not properly, accurately, or honestly made, done, or adjusted: a false balance.
- inaccurate in pitch, as a musical note.
- dishonestly; faithlessly; treacherously: Did he speak false against me?
- play someone false, to betray someone; be treacherous or faithless.
Origin of false
Synonyms for false
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for false
fake, untrue, distorted, mistaken, improper, erroneous, fanciful, untruthful, incorrect, deceitful, invalid, fictitious, bogus, misleading, faulty, inaccurate, spurious, phony, specious, unfoundedExamples from the Web for false
Contemporary Examples of false
He has contributed to a false picture of law enforcement based on isolated injustices.
And no issue should be defined by its outliers because it paints a false picture.
He quotes an unnamed cardinal saying that the conclave voters knew the charges were false.
Once people with ID are arrested, they are particularly susceptible to making coerced and often false confessions.
He maintains a list of people with ID whom he believes were unjustly convicted after false confessions.
Historical Examples of false
It was not that she could not say "I have done no wickedness;" let us place this heroine in no false light.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
She could feel its false precision, its intention, its repulse of her.
Life and Death of Harriett FreanMay Sinclair
The happy man is he who knows his limitations, yet bows to no false gods.
Ballads of a BohemianRobert W. Service
Had her father forced her into the false position in which she found herself?
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
But Mammon was never the name of an idol or other form of false deity.
The Conquest of FearBasil King
false
- not in accordance with the truth or facts
- irregular or invalida false start
- untruthful or lyinga false account
- not genuine, real, or natural; artificial; fakefalse eyelashes
- being or intended to be misleading or deceptivea false rumour
- disloyal or treacherousa false friend
- based on mistaken or irrelevant ideas or factsfalse pride; a false argument
- (prenominal) (esp of plants) superficially resembling the species specifiedfalse hellebore
- serving to supplement or replace, often temporarilya false keel
- music
- (of a note, interval, etc) out of tune
- (of the interval of a perfect fourth or fifth) decreased by a semitone
- (of a cadence) interrupted or imperfect
- in a false or dishonest manner (esp in the phrase play (someone) false)
Word Origin for false
Word Origin and History for false
late 12c., from Old French fals, faus (12c., Modern French faux) "false, fake, incorrect, mistaken, treacherous, deceitful," from Latin falsus "deceived, erroneous, mistaken," past participle of fallere "deceive, disappoint," of uncertain origin (see fail).
Adopted into other Germanic languages (cf. German falsch, Dutch valsch, Danish falsk), though English is the only one in which the active sense of "deceitful" (a secondary sense in Latin) has predominated. False alarm recorded from 1570s. Related: Falsely; falseness.
Idioms and Phrases with false
false
In addition to the idioms beginning with false
- false alarm
- false colors
- false start
- false step
also see:
- lull into (false sense of security)
- play false
- ring false