false

1 of 2

adjective

falser; falsest
1
: not genuine
false documents
false teeth
2
a
: intentionally untrue
false testimony
b
: adjusted or made so as to deceive
false scales
a trunk with a false bottom
c
: intended or tending to mislead
a false promise
3
: not true
false concepts
4
a
: not faithful or loyal : treacherous
a false friend
b
: lacking naturalness or sincerity
false sympathy
5
a
: not essential or permanent
used of parts of a structure that are temporary or supplemental
b
: fitting over a main part to strengthen it, to protect it, or to disguise its appearance
a false ceiling
6
: inaccurate in pitch
a false note
7
a
: based on mistaken ideas
false pride
b
: inconsistent with the facts
a false position
a false sense of security
8
: threateningly sudden or deceptive
don't make any false moves
falsely adverb
falseness noun

false

2 of 2

adverb

: in a false or faithless manner : treacherously
his friends played him false
Choose the Right Synonym for false

faithless, false, disloyal, traitorous, treacherous, perfidious mean untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance.

faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty.

faithless allies

false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery.

betrayed by false friends

disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country.

disloyal to their country

traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust.

traitorous acts punishable by death

treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence.

a treacherous adviser

perfidious adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability.

a perfidious double-crosser

Examples of false in a Sentence

Adjective Indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false. He registered at the hotel under a false name.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Bear in mind that his campaign was replete with false claims — about immigration, jobs, inflation, crime and more. Paul Krugman, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024 Oz is the Penguin now — like everyone in Batman’s Rogues Gallery, a caricature of his own trauma, drawn to criminal means of false liberation. Andy Andersen, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024
Adverb
Mitchell, of Canton, won the 2019 State Open 100-meter title after Miller false-started and was disqualified. Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 14 Feb. 2023 See all Example Sentences for false 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Adverb

Middle English fals, faus, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin falsus, from past participle of fallere to deceive

First Known Use

Adjective

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of false was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near false

Cite this Entry

“False.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/false. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

false

adjective
ˈfȯls
falser; falsest
1
: not genuine
false documents
false teeth
2
a
: intentionally untrue
false testimony
b
: intended or tending to mislead
false promise
3
: not true : incorrect
false information
4
: not faithful or loyal : treacherous
5
: not necessary to structure
a false ceiling
6
: inaccurate in pitch
a false note
7
: based on mistaken ideas
false pride
falsely adverb
falseness noun

Medical Definition

false

adjective
falser; falsest
1
: not corresponding to truth or reality
a test for HIV which gave false results
2
: artificially made
false teeth
3
: of a kind related to or resembling another kind that is usually designated by the unqualified vernacular
false oats
falsely adverb
falseness noun

Legal Definition

false

adjective
1
: not genuine, authentic, or legitimate compare counterfeit
2
a
: not true or correct
especially : intentionally or knowingly untrue or incorrect
injured by false accusations
b
: intended to mislead or deceive : deceptive, misleading compare fraudulent
falsely adverb
falseness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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