half-truth

[ haf-trooth, hahf- ]

noun

, plural half-truths [haf, -troo, th, z, hahf, -].

1. a statement that is only partly true, especially one intended to deceive, evade blame, or the like.
2. a statement that fails to divulge the whole truth.

half-truth

noun

1. a partially true statement intended to mislead

Derived Forms

• ˈhalf-ˈtrue, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of half-truth¹

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

“There is so much myth and half-truth wrapped around the A-10,” the official said.

From The Daily Beast

“Putin never directly lies, he just tells half truths and his answer was a half truth,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

To say that he is a terrible actor is to utter a half-truth.

From The Daily Beast

That the government will default once it passes the debt limit is another half-truth, says Gillespie.

From The Daily Beast

If they want to know where I went to school, I can give a half truth and say, “Public school.”

From The Daily Beast

There is nothing so dangerous as a half-truth; it is worse than a whole lie.

From Project Gutenberg

The popular notion that unsatisfied desires sooner or later perish of starvation is at best but a half truth.

From Project Gutenberg

If he stops there, the matter requires consideration, for a half truth is worse than a whole lie.

From Project Gutenberg

She hurried out the half-truth with a curious feeling of guilt.

From Project Gutenberg

You are now face to face with the most perplexing of sophistries—the half truth.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cover-up
• deceit
• deception
• dishonesty
• distortion
• fabrication
• fakery
• fallacy
• falsity
• misstatement
• perjury
• prevarication
• sham
• tall tale
• untruth