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

The man is being investigated for concealing a corpse, fraud against state damages, impersonation and falsehood in public, per La Repubblica. —Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025

That’s the goal of those who flood the market with falsehoods. —Richard Stengel, Time, 24 Nov. 2025

Meanwhile, major tech companies have scaled back content-moderation efforts, even as hate speech and election falsehoods rise. —Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025

Some contained falsehoods and disinformation. —David Smiley, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025

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