Dictionary

falsehood en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈfɒlsˌhʊd/ (UK)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English falshede, from false + -hede, equivalent to false + -hood.

Meanings

1. (uncountable) The property of being false.
   • Every such idiom is what is known as a truth function, and is characterized by the fact that the truth or falsehood of the complex statement which it generates is uniquely determined by the truth or falsehood of the several statements which it combines. 1976, Willard Van Orman Quine, The Ways of Paradox, and other essays, page 89:
2. (countable) A false statement, especially an intentional one; a lie.
   • The fact checking, which started Sunday, stands in stark contrast to the he-said, she-said nature of most television chatfests, even though PolitiFact’s work takes place well after the facts and possible falsehoods are first uttered on TV. 2010 April 12, Brian Stelter, “‘This Week’ Is Adding Online Fact Checks”, in The New York Times:
   • Oreskes allowed as much Wednesday, saying the word had not been banned, and adding, "I think one of the big challenges for us will be in situations where the falsehood is repeated so often that it becomes clear, the intent. And then I think it'll be fair to challenge us on the question of — the intent is so obvious that you could add it up and come to the word lie. We'll see." 2017 January 26, Elizabeth Jensen, “The Pros And Cons Of NPR's Policy Of Not Calling Out 'Lies'”, in NPR:
   • Don't tell falsehoods.
3. (archaic, countable, rare, uncountable) Mendacity, deceitfulness; the trait of lying.
   • O mortal, eschew falsehood and flattery. Death flayeth and killeth the false one: The apostate suffereth for his falsehood and pride; he is tormented in both worlds. Renounce slander and envy of others. 1963, M. Arthur Macauliffe, The Sikh Religion: its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors, page 7:
   • THE LEPROSY OF NAAMAN INFLICTED ON GEHAZI, FOR HIS FALSEHOOD AND COVETOUSNESS. 1817, Robert Stevenson, Scripture Portraits, volume 1, page 155:
   • Lyden: That was wonderful. Could I read just what is the refrain here in English? Ms-Consoli: Yeah. Lyden: Look into my eyes. Take off all falsehood. The aura of pureness reveals fiendish anomalies. And you know what I mean 2006 October 7, Jacki Lyden, “Italian Pop Star Takes on U.S. Music Market”, in NPR All Things Considered:
   • The false prophet looks like a lamb, but speaks like a dragon. This indicates his falsehood. […] He will pretend to be the same as Christ. 1984, Witness Lee, Life-Study: Revelation: Volume Three: Messages 34-50, Living Stream Ministry, published 1999, →ISBN, page 511:

Forms

Antonyms

truthfulness · truth (antonym(s) of “false statement”) · verity (antonym(s) of “false statement”) · veracity · correctness

Deriveds

fakehood · superfalsehood

Relateds

equivocation · nonsense · misconception · verisimilitude · truthlikeness · fairy tale · error · fiction · false · factoid · prevaricate · truthiness · wikiality · erroneous

Synonyms

terminological inexactitude · falseness (deceitfulness) · lie (intentionally false statement) · fabrication · falsedom · crock (intentionally false statement) · falsehood · yed · untruth · misinformation · misstatement · falsity (property of being false) · disinformation · fib · leasing · mendacity (deceitfulness)

Translations (84)

tew hôeyó (false statement) · ar أَبَاطِيل (false statement) · bg лъжли́вост (trait of a person) · wa minte (false statement) · got 𐌲𐌰𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌲 (state of being false) · mi horihori (false statement) · es falimiento (false statement) · fr fausseté (state of being false) · oc falsetat (state of being false) · ga bréag (false statement) · gl falsidade (state of being false) · bho झूठ (state of being false) · mi tipatipa (false statement) · ru лжи́вость (trait of a person) · nl onwaarheid (state of being false) · sv falskhet (state of being false) · mn худал (false statement) · fi epätotuus (false statement) · pdt Lieej (false statement) · pl fałsz (false statement) · fr mensonge (false statement) · ru непра́вда (false statement) · de unwahre Behauptung (false statement) · mi hori (false statement) · txb waike (false statement) · ki iheeni (false statement) · bg непра́вилност (state of being false) · nb usannhet (state of being false) · ru фальшь (false statement) · egy g:r-grg-A2 (false statement) · nb falskhet (trait of a person) · oc falsièra (state of being false) · ka სიცრუე (state of being false) · ru непра́вильность (state of being false) · ca falsedat (false statement) · pt falsidade (state of being false) · it menzogna (state of being false) · ota یالان (false statement) · ka ტყუილი (false statement) · bg фалш (false statement) · nb løgn (false statement) · la falsitās (false statement) · oc falsetat (false statement) · mi teka (false statement) · oc falsièra (trait of a person) · ota یالانجیلق (trait of a person) · it menzognero (trait of a person) · ka სიცრუე (false statement) · de Falschheit (state of being false) · mi hāwatewate (false statement) · mi parau (false statement) · ro falsitate (state of being false) · oc falsièra (false statement) · it menzogna (false statement) · ru ложь (false statement) · hi झूठ (state of being false) · mi kēā (false statement) · sa मिथ्या (false statement) · wa mintreye (false statement) · ar زَيْف (false statement) · fi epätotuus (state of being false) · grc ψεῦδος (false statement) · nl onwaarheid (false statement) · fi valheellisuus (state of being false) · bg лъжа́ (false statement) · it falsità (state of being false) · fi vale (false statement) · de Falschheit (trait of a person) · ar بَاطِل (false statement) · fr contrevérité (false statement) · la perfidia (trait of a person) · oc falsetat (trait of a person) · ka მატყუარობა (trait of a person) · ka ცრუობა (trait of a person) · pl fałszywość (state of being false) · bg гре́шка (state of being false) · sa असत्य (false statement) · fi valhe (false statement) · de Lüge (false statement) · ca falsedat (state of being false) · fi epärehellisyys (trait of a person) · de Unwahrheit (state of being false) · oc falsesa (state of being false) · de Falschsein (trait of a person)