false

\ ˈfȯls

How to pronounce false (audio)

\

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

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 Learn More about false

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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 Despite all the lawsuits, recounts and false voter fraud allegations, the Electoral College on Dec. 14 elected Biden the next president by a margin of 306 to 232 – marking no change in the electoral outcome. — USA Today, "By the numbers: President Donald Trump's failed efforts to overturn the election," 6 Jan. 2021 Jacobs pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return for 2011, aggravated identity theft in the furthering of wire fraud and impersonating an IRS employee. — oregonlive, "LaGrande woman admits to ‘living double life,’ sentenced to 4 years for embezzling more than $1 million from medical practices," 5 Jan. 2021 Will he and all others who tested positive be re-tested in case of false positives? — cleveland, "Why Kevin Stefanski can’t help coach virtually vs. the Steelers, and other Browns COVID-19 things you need to know," 5 Jan. 2021 PolitiFact rated the claim that Warner died from COVID-19 false on Dec. 29. — Devon Link, USA TODAY, "Fact check: Satirical post claims Nashville bombing suspect died from COVID," 5 Jan. 2021 In 2020, Egypt led countries in imprisoning journalists on false-news charges. — Wired Staff, Wired, "One Free Press Coalition Spotlights Journalists Under Attack," 5 Jan. 2021 Do not accept the false idea that brain decline is unavoidable. — Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, "Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Memory fades as we age. But it doesn't have to," 5 Jan. 2021 MultiPlan called the allegations false on its most recent earnings call. — Amrith Ramkumar, WSJ, "2020 SPAC Boom Lifted Wall Street’s Biggest Banks," 5 Jan. 2021 Journalists too must step up, avoiding false equivalency or both-sides-ism; there is no need to give equal time to rumor mongers or conspiracy theorists simply to appear balanced. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, "Too Many Americans Still Mistrust the COVID-19 Vaccines. Here's Why," 5 Jan. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb 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, "Browns’ Denzel Ward could be back for the wild-card game; OL coach Bill Callahan might have to miss again," 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, "49ers’ new home away from home proves to be anything but sweet," 7 Dec. 2020 The drive started with left tackle Charles Leno false-starting. — Star Tribune, "Even in Chicago, Vikings should outclass Bears' brutal offense," 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, "Nick Saban: No player positive tests before Georgia game," 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, "To Settle Infinity Dispute, a New Law of Logic," 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, "Roger Clemens, Arguably the Greatest Pitcher of All-Time, Is Trending Toward Hall of Fame Induction," 13 Dec. 2017

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.

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Last Updated

12 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“False.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/false. Accessed 17 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for false

false

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of false

: not real or genuine

: not true or accurate especially : deliberately untrue : done or said to fool or deceive someone

: based on mistaken ideas

See the full definition for false in the English Language Learners Dictionary

false

\ ˈfȯls

\

falser; falsest

Kids Definition of false

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : not true, genuine, or honest false testimony false documents false teeth

2 : not faithful or loyal false friends

3 : not based on facts or sound judgment a false feeling of security

4 : careless sense 2 One false step, and he could slip …— Jerry Spinelli, Maniac Magee

false

Kids Definition of false (Entry 2 of 2)

: in a dishonest or misleading manner He spoke false.

false

\ ˈfȯls

\

falser; falsest

Medical Definition of false

1 : not corresponding to truth or reality a test for HIV which gave false results

2 : artificially made false teeth

3 : of a kind related to or resembling another kind that is usually designated by the unqualified vernacular false oats

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false

Legal Definition of false

1 : not genuine, authentic, or legitimate — compare counterfeit

2a : not true or correct especially : intentionally or knowingly untrue or incorrect injured by false accusations

b : intended to mislead or deceive : deceptive, misleading — compare fraudulent

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