false

adjective

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\ ˈfȯls

falser; falsest

Definition of false

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : not genuine false documents false teeth

2a : intentionally untrue false testimony

b : adjusted or made so as to deceive false scales a trunk with a false bottom

c : intended or tending to mislead a false promise

3 : not true false concepts

4a : not faithful or loyal : treacherous a false friend

b : lacking naturalness or sincerity false sympathy

5a : not essential or permanent —used of parts of a structure that are temporary or supplemental

b : fitting over a main part to strengthen it, to protect it, or to disguise its appearance a false ceiling

6 : inaccurate in pitch a false note

7a : based on mistaken ideas false pride

b : inconsistent with the facts a false position a false sense of security

8 : threateningly sudden or deceptive don't make any false moves

false

adverb

Definition of false (Entry 2 of 2)

: in a false or faithless manner : treacherously his friends played him false

Other Words from false Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing false Learn More About false

Choose the Right Synonym for false

Adjective

faithless, false, disloyal, traitorous, treacherous, perfidious mean untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance. faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty. faithless allies false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery. betrayed by false friends disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country. disloyal to their country traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust. traitorous acts punishable by death treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence. a treacherous adviser perfidious adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability. a perfidious double-crosser

Examples of false in a Sentence

Adjective Indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false. He registered at the hotel under a false name.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Heisa was charged federally in December 2018 and pleaded guilty in October 2019 to making false information or hoaxes and mailing threatening communications. — Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 8 May 2022 The petitioners claimed that at least four voters had registered with false information and, on that basis, demanded to see the registration books. — David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 8 May 2022 An alternative theory is that Kiselyov is suggesting the U.K. would strike after some sort of false-flag attempt to blame Russia. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 5 May 2022 On one side are institutional gatekeepers who favor top-down control of speech on social media, filtering out abhorrent rhetoric and false information that could sway how citizens vote. — Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 May 2022 The Biden administration’s decision to undermine potential Russian false-flag operations by making intelligence findings public was a masterstroke. — William A. Galston, WSJ, 3 May 2022 Google also helped prevent the spread of false information during the pandemic. Framework. — Blake Morgan, Forbes, 1 May 2022 Meta, which also owns Facebook, has been under pressure throughout the pandemic to fight misinformation, as vaccine skeptics have used its platforms to circulate false information on Covid-19 and the vaccines. — Casey Ross And Katie Palmer, STAT, 29 Apr. 2022 Trump answered that the insurrection was a false-flag Antifa operation, which McCarthy boldly disputed. — Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 22 Apr. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb There’s false-toothed Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp in Impeachment: American Crime Story. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Nov. 2021 With time winding down in a scoreless game, the Gladiators made the most of a penalty corner when two of the four Hereford defenders false-started, crossing the goal line before the ball was put in play. — Rich Scherr, baltimoresun.com, 13 Nov. 2021 Browns offensive linemen false-started three times in the game — once by Wyatt Teller and twice by Joel Bitonio — and Stefanski vowed to correct it. — cleveland, 4 Jan. 2021 The 49ers’ chances to keep the game close fizzled late when a touchdown was overturned, and Nick Mullens false-started on a sneak at the goal line and then threw an interception. — Ann Killion, SFChronicle.com, 7 Dec. 2020 The drive started with left tackle Charles Leno false-starting. — Star Tribune, 10 Nov. 2020 Alabama coach Nick Saban said Saturday the school conducted 240 tests of its football players and none came positive after his potentially false-positive COVID-19 test Wednesday. — Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 17 Oct. 2020 Meanwhile, forcing axioms, which deem the continuum hypothesis false by adding a new size of infinity, would also extend the frontiers of mathematics in other directions. — Quanta Magazine, 26 Nov. 2013 Any assertion otherwise on the latter front rings false given that, as acting commissioner, Selig had to have known about the FBI’s Operation Equine, an early ’90s investigation into PED distribution that included McGwire and Canseco. — Jay Jaffe, SI.com, 13 Dec. 2017 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'false.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.