falsehood

noun

false·​hood ˈfȯls-ˌhu̇d 

1

: an untrue statement : lie

2

: absence of truth or accuracy

3

: the practice of lying : mendacity

Synonyms

• delusion
• error
• fallacy
• falsity
• hallucination
• illusion
• misbelief
• misconception
• myth
• old wives' tale
• untruth

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

But a prosecutor dismissed the statement as just the most recent in a string of falsehoods. —Harriet Ryan, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025

Trump repeats pro-Russian talking points, such as the falsehood that Ukraine started the war. —German Lopez, New York Times, 16 May 2025

Any falsehood or inaccuracy (real or alleged) enunciated by President Donald Trump is almost invariably immediately met with refutation, rebuke, even ridicule by his media critics and political opponents. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2025

But internal documents reviewed by NPR show that Meta is considering automating reviews for sensitive areas including AI safety, youth risk and a category known as integrity that encompasses things like violent content and the spread of falsehoods. —Shannon Bond, NPR, 31 May 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