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View synonyms for

false

[ fawls ]

adjective

falser, falsest.
  1. not true or correct; erroneous:

    a false statement.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  2. uttering or declaring what is untrue:

    a false witness.

    Synonyms: , ,

  3. not faithful or loyal; treacherous:

    a false friend.

    Synonyms: , , , , , , ,

  4. tending to deceive or mislead; deceptive:

    a false impression.

    Synonyms: ,

  5. not genuine; counterfeit.

    Synonyms: , ,

  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

/ ɔː /

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. in a false or dishonest manner (esp in the phrase play ( someone ) false )
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈڲ, adverb
  • ˈڲԱ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ڲl adverb
  • ڲn noun
  • 󲹱-ڲ adjective
  • ܲȴ-ڲ adjective
  • quasi-ڲl adverb
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of false1

Old English fals , from Latin falsus , from fallere to deceive
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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
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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.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He was arrested Tuesday for making "false statements with the intention of causing public panic", Myanmar's information ministry said.

From

He added that reports to the contrary were "false".

From

He was not allowed to enter a plea on the treason charge but pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of publishing false information.

From

"SB 8 falsely implied that there would be medical exceptions by using vague language, and the average Texan doesn't realize the false implication until someone they love is in that impossible situation," Brandt said.

From

But researchers from 5Rights Foundation were able to set up a series of fake Teen Accounts using false birthdays, with no additional checks by the platform.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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FALNfalse acacia