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

In making and broadcasting these falsehoods, among others, defendants seek only to capitalize on the public’s appetite for scandal without any regard for the truth and at the expense of Mr. Combs’s right to a fair trial. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 12 Feb. 2025

Now, Google has quietly scrubbed one such falsehood from a demo of its AI writing assistant that featured prominently in an ad planned for Sunday's Super Bowl. —Ars Technica, 5 Feb. 2025

By Stephanie McNeal January 30, 2025 For Senator Maggie Hassan, the falsehoods that have been spread about any link between vaccines and autism are beyond the pale—and hit close to home. —Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 30 Jan. 2025

Despite the easy ride, Trump still peppered the conversation with a mixture of falsehoods that Newsweek's Fact Check team has assessed. —John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025

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