false

adjective

\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 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

For example, Huda Beauty, a billion-dollar cosmetic empire currently sells 22 types of false eyelashes, both faux and mink, but not a single tube of mascara. — Kellie Ell, Glamour, "Social Media Is Killing Mascara," 28 Nov. 2018 The agency’s primary role is to police unfair and deceptive trade practices, including enforcing rules against false or misleading advertising. — Andrea M. Matwyshyn, WSJ, "The ‘Internet of Bodies’ Is Here. Are Courts and Regulators Ready?," 12 Nov. 2018 Pauley Perrette was first targeted by false ads for a skin care line in 2017. — Megan Stein, Country Living, "Former 'NCIS' Star Pauley Perrette Slams 'False Ads' Claiming She Has a Skin Care Line," 16 Oct. 2018 There was false advertising on Facebook and Twitter, and some on Google and YouTube. — Eric Johnson, Recode, "Nobody trusts Facebook anymore. Here’s one way it could change that.," 15 Oct. 2018 The idea is that the changes wrought by the state's anti-discrimination bill are jeopardizing non-trans citizens' safety, which is utterly false, according to a UCLA study. — Jenny Hollander, Marie Claire, "This Anti-Trans Ballot Measure in Massachusetts Must Be Stopped," 3 Oct. 2018 In AV-Comparatives’ real-world protection test Bitdefender earned a 99.8 percent average block rate for more than 1,000 samples per month between February and June 2018, with two false positives. — Ian Paul, PCWorld, "Bitdefender Total Security 2019 review: This AV suite builds a better autopilot," 13 Sep. 2018 Making a false crime report is a misdemeanor in Minnesota. — Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAY, "A police officer pointed his gun at 4 unarmed, black teens. Now police are investigating," 12 July 2018 Three had their names removed and said the claims were false. — Asia Fields, The Seattle Times, "UW students publish online ‘rape list’ out of hopelessness," 26 Oct. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

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.