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

falsifier

2 of 2

noun

fal·​si·​fi·​er

-īə

plural -s

: one that falsifies

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

Perhaps that last claim feels overblown, but movies indisputably falsify reality, presenting a world that seems hypervivid for a few hours but vanishes when the lights come up. — Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026

She was sentenced in October 2014 to 15 months in prison after striking a deal with prosecutors and agreeing to plead guilty to mail, wire and bank fraud for falsifying statements on loan applications. — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026

The trucking company, which authorities say falsified the registration on the vehicle, also faces criminal charges, as two families attempt to rebuild their lives from what appear to be serious failures by the driver and company to operate safely. — J.d. Miles, CBS News, 25 June 2026

The $9 billion company allegedly asked creators with American audiences to falsify trades as a marketing tactic, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 23 June 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