falsehood

noun

false·​hood ˈfȯls-ˌhu̇d 

1

: an untrue statement : lie

spreading falsehoods about his opponent

2

: absence of truth or accuracy

The falsehood of this narrative made it no less effective.

—Peniel E. Joseph

3

: the practice of lying : mendacity

… Thomas Jefferson … accused the press of engaging in "falsehood and defamation" while covering his administration.

—Albert R. Hunt

Synonyms of falsehood

• delusion
• myth
• error
• illusion

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

Such undead falsehoods drive our current peril. — Literary Hub, 11 June 2026

The role of journalism is not to stand neutrally between truth and falsehood. — Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026

This matters because cancer falsehoods online are directly linked to higher rates of death, studies have found. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2026

The ecotourism sector is a hotbed of sustainability falsehoods. — Rachel Cernansky, Wired News, 5 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for falsehood

• adulthood
• babyhood
• brotherhood
• cottonwood
• fatherhood
• firewood
• fuelwood
• hardihood
• ironwood
• leatherwood
• likelihood
• livelihood

Kids Definition

falsehood

noun

false·​hood ˈfȯls-ˌhu̇d 

1

: an untrue statement : lie

2

: the habit of lying