falsehood

noun

false·​hood ˈfȯls-ˌhu̇d 

1

: an untrue statement : lie

2

: absence of truth or accuracy

3

: the practice of lying : mendacity

Synonyms

• delusion
• error
• fallacy
• falsity
• hallucination
• illusion
• misbelief
• misconception
• myth
• old wives' tale
• untruth

Examples of falsehood in a Sentence

the line between truth and falsehood

the possibility of a perpetual motion machine is one falsehood that has been disproved by modern physics

Recent Examples on the Web

The president also loved anecdotes, continuing to repeat them even when confronted by evidence of their falsehood. —Danny Heitman, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Oct. 2024

Domestic terrorism — the use of violence for political ends — has risen dramatically in recent years and is driven largely by partisan falsehoods and lies, a new study says. —Tribune News Service, The Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2024

Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, also have spread falsehoods about migrants in other communities, particularly in Ohio. —Jesse Bedayn and Adriana Gomez Licon, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2024

Trump was classic Trump in the interview, regurgitating the usual falsehoods about the 2020 election, immigration, and more. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

falsehood

noun

false·​hood ˈfȯls-ˌhu̇d 

1

: an untrue statement : lie

2

: the habit of lying