false

[fawls]

adjective

falser, falsest 

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

4. tending to deceive or mislead; deceptive.

   a false impression.

   Synonyms: fallacious, misleading

5. not genuine; counterfeit.

   Synonyms: artificial, bogus, spurious, artificial

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

   false pride

   a false argument

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 )

Other Word Forms

• falsely adverb
• falseness noun
• half-false adjective
• quasi-false adjective
• quasi-falsely 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

But as the day of the 2024 festival approached, Miles's promises of tickets proved to be a mirage, created out of false invoices and fake email addresses.

Read more on BBC

In 2014, Epstein lured a young European model with false promises of development work in Africa with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Is it true? Is it false? That just makes you sick, walking around nervous, it's better to stay calm. Emotions can also affect your health," continues this retired university professor who still works.

Read more on BBC

Most use false names, avoid showing their faces, and refuse to meet new people.

Read more on BBC

To say he has had a false start at Anfield is a masterpiece of understatement.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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