falsify

1 of 2

verb

fal·​si·​fy ˈfȯl-sə-ˌfī 

falsified; falsifying

transitive verb

1

: to prove or declare false : disprove

falsify a theory

2

: to make false: such as

a

: to make false by mutilation or addition

the accounts were falsified to conceal a theft

b

: to represent falsely : misrepresent

3

: to prove unsound by experience

falsify a promise

intransitive verb

: to tell lies : lie

falsifiability

ˌfȯl-sə-ˌfī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

falsifiable

ˌfȯl-sə-ˈfī-ə-bəl 

adjective

falsification

ˌfȯl-sə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

falsifier

ˈfȯl-sə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

falsifiability

2 of 2

noun

fal·​si·​fi·​abil·​i·​ty ˌfȯl(t)səˌfīəˈbilətē 

-bilətē, 

-i

plural -es

: the quality or state of being falsifiable

Synonyms of falsify

Verb

• misrepresent
• distort

Examples of falsify in a Sentence

Verb

He was caught falsifying financial accounts.

taking that statement completely out of context essentially falsifies it, whether that's your intention or not

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But protests sprang up, and eventually Serbian prosecutors charged the minister of culture with falsifying documents to secure permits. — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

However, repeated or deliberate attempts to conceal or falsify a bettor's location are treated differently. — Mike Winters, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026

Aleta Moffitt, the operator of the hyperbaric chamber, was charged with one count of falsifying medical records for allegedly entering false information on a patient chart. — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026

In 2024, Superior Court Judge Julie Mata found that Owens had falsified sonograms, altered medical records and lied under oath during the civil case. — Miguel Torres, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English falsifien, from Middle French falsifier, from Medieval Latin falsificare, from Latin falsus

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for falsify

• abscissae
• adonai
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi

Kids Definition

falsify

verb

fal·​si·​fy ˈfȯl-sə-ˌfī 

falsified; falsifying

: to make false : change so as to deceive

falsify financial accounts

falsification

ˌfȯl-sə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

falsifier

ˈfȯl-sə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Legal Definition

falsify

transitive verb

fal·​si·​fy ˈfȯl-si-ˌfī 

falsified; falsifying

: to make false: as

a

: to make (as a document) false by mutilation, alteration, or addition

the motel clerk had falsified the records

—M. A. Kelly

b

: to report (as information) falsely

the informant falsified his testimony