false en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /fɔls/ (General-American) without the cot–caught merger
- /fɑls/ (General-American, cot-caught-merger, dialectal) of Canada
- /fɒls/ (Canada, dialectal) of the US
- /fɔːls/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (California) audio
- /fɔls/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
- /fɒls/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (London) audio /fɔːls/
Etymology
From Middle English false, fals, from Old English fals (“false; counterfeit; fraudulent; wrong; mistaken”), from Latin falsus (“counterfeit, false; falsehood”), perfect passive participle of fallō (“deceive”). Reinforced in Middle English by Anglo-Norman and Old French fals, faus. Compare Scots fals, false, Saterland Frisian falsk, German falsch, Dutch vals, Swedish and Danish falsk; all from Latin falsus. Displaced native Middle English les, lese, from Old English lēas (“false”); See lease, leasing. Doublet of faux. The verb is from Middle English falsen, falsien, from Old French falser, from Latin falsō (“falsify”), itself also from falsus; compare French fausser (“to falsify, to distort”).
Meanings
-
(of a statement) Untrue, not factual, factually incorrect.
Also the rule of false position, with dyuers examples not onely vulgar, but some appertaynyng to the rule of Algeber.
1551, James A.H. Murray, editor, A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles: Founded Mainly on the Materials Collected by the Philological Society, volume 1, Oxford: Clarendon Press, published 1888, Part 1, page 217, column 2:
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Based on factually incorrect premises.
false legislation, false punishment
-
Spurious, artificial.
false teeth
At her invitation he outlined for her the succeeding chapters with terse military accuracy; and what she liked best and best understood was avoidance of that false modesty which condescends, turning technicality into pabulum.
1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “Silverside”, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC, page 300:
- Of a state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result.
-
Uttering falsehood; dishonest or deceitful.
a false witness
-
Not faithful or loyal, as to obligations, allegiance, vows, etc.; untrue; treacherous.
I to my ſelf was falſe, e’re thou to me,[…]
1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 52, line 25:She had been in Baton Rouge but a little over two weeks, when suddenly his letters ceased. She awaited in anxious suspense a whole week — no letter. Another week dragged heavily, and her anxiety became a terrible fear. Was he sick and unable to write — was he dead — or, still more terrible thought, had he proved false?
1861, E. J. Guerin, Mountain Charley, page 7:a false friend, lover, or subject; false to promises
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Not well founded; not firm or trustworthy; erroneous.
So downe he fell, as an huge rockie clift, / Whoſe falſe foundacion waues haue waſht away,[…]
1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 54, page 170:a false conclusion; a false construction in grammar
- Not essential or permanent, as parts of a structure which are temporary or supplemental.
-
Used in the vernacular name of a species (or group of species) together with the name of another species to which it is similar in appearance.
false powderpost beetles (members of Bostrichidae not in Lyctinae)
false scorpion (an arachnid)
false killer whale (a dolphin)
- Out of tune.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| falsest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| falser | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
false truffle · falsifiable · false albacore · true-or-false · false dichotomy · falsework · false vampire bat · false conception · false nine · false miterwort · false positive · yellow false indigo · false verbena · false violin spider · feathery false lily of the valley · false vacuum · false map turtle · false cypress · false colour · falsehood · false ironwort · false morel · false fruit · false croup · partial false friend · false light · falsify · false measles · false mermaid · false oxlip · false-heartedly · bear false witness · false fire · false-hearted · false works · false chanterelle · false key · false potato beetle · false gavial · false foxglove · false pimpernel · false 9 · shrubby false buttonweed · false scent · false mastic · false door · false holly · play someone false · false flagged · false plum anemone · false dandelion · false keel · false step · false sabre-toothed cat · false face · false tack · falseful · false move · false pregnancy · false drop · false documentary · false signal · false consciousness · false modesty · false alder · false action · false pretence · false economy · false asphodel · false note · false attack · true or false · false number 9 · false acacia · false-heartedness · false blue indigo · false pretense · unfalse · falseheart · rough-leaf false vervain · false sandalwood · false rib · false analogy · falsecard · false jewel beetle · false banana · false horsewood · false flagging · put someone in a false position · false scorpionfish · falsedom · false bottom · false arrest · false pineapple · false widow · falsity · falseface · false jalap · false flagger · false primary · false memory syndrome · false grip · false loose smut · false start · false eyelashes · false flat · false harmonic · false sharing · false flax · false quarter · sail under false colors · false dilemma · false memory · false witness · falsie · nonfalse · false hemp · false monarch · false gharial · false borrowing · false Queen Anne's lace · false hermaphrodite · false flag · false-flagger · false sergeant · falsism · false cousin · false dawn · false cirrus · false negative · false trevally · false cause · false easting · false loan · false ceiling · tralse · false imprisonment · false eyelash · false mesquite · falsy · false equivalence · false antechinus · false crab · falsish · false owlet moth · false mallow · false teeth · false cognate · superfalse · false flax oil · false balance · false mayweed · false-flag · falsen · false strawberry · strike a false note · false buttonweed · false hellebore · false lily of the valley · falseness · false northing · false saber-toothed cat · false shower · ring false · false plane tree · false daisy · false relation · false alarm · false rail · false friend · true-false · false nutmeg · false summit · false tree · false galena · false advertising · false violet · false-memory syndrome · false rhubarb · falsification
Synonyms
erroneous · unveracious · fallacious · nontrue · counterfactual · untruthful · made up · false · fallacious · invented · pseudo- · nonfactual · unveridical · wrong · erroneous · spurious · fictitious · inaccurate · incorrect · lease · nontruthful · untrue · counterfeit · off · bastard
Translations (256)
gd breugach (spurious, artificial) · ms palsu (spurious, artificial) · fr faux (spurious, artificial) · eo falsa (untrue, not factual, wrong) · el νόθος (spurious, artificial) · pl fałszywy (untrue, not factual, wrong) · fi petollinen (not faithful or loyal) · gl falso (spurious, artificial) · tr sahte (spurious, artificial) · fi epälojaali (not faithful or loyal) · fi perusteeton (based on factually incorrect premises) · lt neteisingas (untrue, not factual, wrong) · gd fuadain (untrue, not factual, wrong) · hu hűtlen (not faithful or loyal) · la mendāx (untrue, not factual, wrong) · hu hamis (untrue, not factual, wrong) · br gaou (untrue, not factual, wrong) · vi sai (untrue, not factual, wrong) · io falsa (not well founded, erroneous) · ka ცრუ (untrue, not factual, wrong) · he מזויפות (spurious, artificial) · kw gaw (untrue, not factual, wrong) · es ful (untrue, not factual, wrong) · he שקרי (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ga bréagach (spurious, artificial) · it errato (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ota یالانجی (spurious, artificial) · id salah (untrue, not factual, wrong) · fi falski (music: out of tune) · pt falso (untrue, not factual, wrong) · he מלאכותית (spurious, artificial) · hu hamis (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · he לא נכון (untrue, not factual, wrong) · cmn 假 (untrue, not factual, wrong) · hu hamis (uttering falsehood) · nrf faux (untrue, not factual, wrong) · fr incorrect (untrue, not factual, wrong) · fi epävireinen (music: out of tune) · ja 偽 (untrue, not factual, wrong) · fr faux (untrue, not factual, wrong) · sa असत्य (untrue, not factual, wrong) · pl nieprawdziwy (untrue, not factual, wrong) · uk хи́бний (untrue, not factual, wrong) · io falsa (based on factually incorrect premises) · fi vale- (not essential or permanent) · oc fals (untrue, not factual, wrong) · cmn 虛偽 /虚伪 (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ga falsa (spurious, artificial) · pl błędny (untrue, not factual, wrong) · uk хи́ба (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · pdt faulsch (untrue, not factual, wrong) · he מזוייפת (spurious, artificial) · vi sai (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · sh pogrešan (based on factually incorrect premises) · ms salah (untrue, not factual, wrong) · lv viltots (spurious, artificial) · tr yalan (untrue, not factual, wrong) · fi väärä (not well founded, erroneous) · sh netočan (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · sc fàlsu (untrue, not factual, wrong) · it posticcio (spurious, artificial) · cy ffug (untrue, not factual, wrong) · vo dobik (untrue, not factual, wrong) · fa غلط (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ca artificial (spurious, artificial) · fi epärehellinen (uttering falsehood) · tr yanlış (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ga bréag- (spurious, artificial) · nl onjuist (untrue, not factual, wrong) · mi tipatipa (untrue, not factual, wrong) · lv nepareizs (untrue, not factual, wrong) · sv osann (untrue, not factual, wrong) · hi झूठा (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ka ყალბი (spurious, artificial) · cy anghywir (untrue, not factual, wrong) · bg неверен (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · ia false (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ru фальши́вый (untrue, not factual, wrong) · fi keino- (spurious, artificial) · de falsch (spurious, artificial) · ja 偽 (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · nl vals (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · da kunstig (spurious, artificial) · nl onecht (spurious, artificial) · ga bréagach (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ca fals (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · cs nepravý (spurious, artificial) · lv kļūdains (untrue, not factual, wrong) · cy anwir (untrue, not factual, wrong) · fi epätosi (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · de unecht (spurious, artificial) · mi meho (untrue, not factual, wrong) · fi vale- (spurious, artificial) · ia false (spurious, artificial) · crh yañlış (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ast falsu (untrue, not factual, wrong) · fi virheellinen (not well founded, erroneous) · he מלאכותיות (spurious, artificial) · lv mākslīgs (spurious, artificial) · hy կեղծ (spurious, artificial) · lt dirbtinis (spurious, artificial) · ar زَائِف (untrue, not factual, wrong) · it finto (spurious, artificial) · fi kelvoton (not well founded, erroneous) · ka ტყუილი (untrue, not factual, wrong) · hu hamis (not well founded, erroneous) · ro contrafăcut (spurious, artificial) · de unwahr (untrue, not factual, wrong) · he שקרי (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · eo nevera (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ur جھوٹھا (untrue, not factual, wrong) · he מלאכותי (spurious, artificial) · he תותבת (spurious, artificial) · sa असत् (untrue, not factual, wrong) · sh kriv (not well founded, erroneous) · pt errado (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ky арамза (untrue, not factual, wrong) · pt artificial (spurious, artificial) · sh lažan (not faithful or loyal) · ca fals (untrue, not factual, wrong) · lt klaidingas (untrue, not factual, wrong) · fi epätosi (untrue, not factual, wrong) · he תותב (spurious, artificial) · de falsch (untrue, not factual, wrong) · mi patē (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ota یالان (spurious, artificial) · ro neadevăr (untrue, not factual, wrong) · cs falešný (spurious, artificial) · yi פֿאַלש (untrue, not factual, wrong) · da falsk (untrue, not factual, wrong) · hu hamis (spurious, artificial) · gd fuadain (spurious, artificial) · nl onwaar (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · vo neveratik (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ur کھوٹا (untrue, not factual, wrong) · es sacha (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ro fals (untrue, not factual, wrong) · sa अशुद्ध (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ro fals (spurious, artificial) · io falsa (spurious, artificial) · ga bréagach (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · fi väärä (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ky жаңылыш (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ota ساخته (spurious, artificial) · grc ψευδής (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ast falsu (spurious, artificial) · as ভুৱা (untrue, not factual, wrong) · es falso (untrue, not factual, wrong) · pt falso (spurious, artificial) · io falsa (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · is rangur (untrue, not factual, wrong) · hu hamis (music: out of tune) · mi parau (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ca fals (spurious, artificial) · bg грешен (untrue, not factual, wrong) · arz فلصو (untrue, not factual, wrong) · sh kriv (based on factually incorrect premises) · sv konstgjord (spurious, artificial) · mfe fos (untrue, not factual, wrong) · el κίβδηλος (spurious, artificial) · eo malvera (untrue, not factual, wrong) · tr yanlış (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · fr faux (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · nrf faux (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · ga bréige (spurious, artificial) · gl falso (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ar بَاطِل (untrue, not factual, wrong) · gd meallta (spurious, artificial) · ota یالان (untrue, not factual, wrong) · fi keinotekoinen (spurious, artificial) · fi väliaikainen (not essential or permanent) · ga bréige (untrue, not factual, wrong) · izh perätöin (untrue, not factual, wrong) · fi teko- (spurious, artificial) · la fictus (spurious, artificial) · la falsus (untrue, not factual, wrong) · cs umělý (spurious, artificial) · hu ál- (not essential or permanent) · fi vale- (untrue, not factual, wrong) · mi hewa (based on factually incorrect premises) · is ósannur (untrue, not factual, wrong) · nl onwaar (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ru ло́жный (untrue, not factual, wrong) · sh lažan (spurious, artificial) · sv falskt (music: out of tune) · fi valheellinen (untrue, not factual, wrong) · hu mű- (spurious, artificial) · fr artificiel (spurious, artificial) · ro artificial (spurious, artificial) · el ψευδής (spurious, artificial) · el ψευδής (untrue, not factual, wrong) · mi horihori (untrue, not factual, wrong) · nl vals (spurious, artificial) · es falso (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · mi kēā (untrue, not factual, wrong) · he מלאכותיים (spurious, artificial) · el πλαστός (spurious, artificial) · dlm fuals (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ja 虚偽 (untrue, not factual, wrong) · it bugiardo (untrue, not factual, wrong) · id buatan (spurious, artificial) · ko 거짓 (untrue, not factual, wrong) · nl vals (untrue, not factual, wrong) · bg изкуствен (spurious, artificial) · tr yapay (spurious, artificial) · mi teka (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ky ката (untrue, not factual, wrong) · nl fout (untrue, not factual, wrong) · he מזוייף (spurious, artificial) · it falso (untrue, not factual, wrong) · sv falsk (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ht fo (untrue, not factual, wrong) · gd breugach (untrue, not factual, wrong) · sh pogrešan (not well founded, erroneous) · as মিছা (untrue, not factual, wrong) · syl ꠝꠤꠍꠣ (untrue, not factual, wrong) · hi खोटा (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ota یالان (based on factually incorrect premises) · pdt faulsch (based on factually incorrect premises) · fi väärä (based on factually incorrect premises) · ca incorrecte (untrue, not factual, wrong) · bg фалшив (spurious, artificial) · grc πλαστός (spurious, artificial) · vsn आसत् (untrue, not factual, wrong) · lt netikras (spurious, artificial) · ar كَاذِب (untrue, not factual, wrong) · de falsch (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · ca postís (spurious, artificial) · ro fals (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · pl sztuczny (spurious, artificial) · hy սխալ (untrue, not factual, wrong) · he מזויפים (spurious, artificial) · ru ложь (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · it falso (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · gd mealltach (spurious, artificial) · ru непра́вильный (untrue, not factual, wrong) · sh falš (music: out of tune) · ar كَاذِب (uttering falsehood) · sv falskt (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · da usand (untrue, not factual, wrong) · pt falso (state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result) · es postizo (spurious, artificial) · hy կեղծ (untrue, not factual, wrong) · cy gau (untrue, not factual, wrong) · cs nepravdivý (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ang lēas (untrue, not factual, wrong) · cs imitovaný (spurious, artificial) · io falsa (untrue, not factual, wrong) · mi hāwatewate (untrue, not factual, wrong) · hu hamis (not faithful or loyal) · cmn 虛假 /虚假 (untrue, not factual, wrong) · eu faltsu (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ur غلط (untrue, not factual, wrong) · mi mākiri (not well founded, erroneous) · uk неправди́вий (untrue, not factual, wrong) · ky жасалма (untrue, not factual, wrong)