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

Ace Reputation’s models are trained not just to recognize explicit falsehoods, but to identify subtler distortions - context shifts, narrative framing, and the early signals of viral propagation, Gaurav claims. —Wyles Daniel may 19, Miami Herald, 19 May 2026

There are gross omissions, blatant discrepancies, and outright falsehoods. —Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026

Blatant falsehoods are not what Angelenos like to see from law enforcement leaders. —The Editorial Board, Daily News, 13 May 2026

In the minutes, hours and days following Saturday’s interrupted White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, Americans were inundated by falsehoods and conspiracy theories from nearly every flank. —Jane Lytvynenko, NBC news, 3 May 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