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

In this environment, influencers and politically motivated accounts now function as de facto broadcasters, often spreading half-truths, distortions or outright falsehoods with little accountability. —Editorial, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026

This will cause people to be unsure of what is truth versus falsehoods. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Glitchy programming isn’t the only font of falsehood. —Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2026

Trump has targeted freedom of speech, attempting to control and change information — often with misinformation and falsehoods — to push his views into the media, higher education, national museums and the arts. —Npr Staff, NPR, 23 Jan. 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