falsify

verb

fal·​si·​fy ˈfȯl-sə-ˌfī How to pronounce falsify (audio)
falsified; falsifying

transitive verb

1
: to prove or declare false : disprove
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

intransitive verb

: to tell lies : lie
falsifiable adjective
falsification noun
falsifier noun

Examples of falsify in a Sentence

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 Both men were charged with falsifying a public record, while Reyes faced an additional count of perjury and Salcedo was charged with a separate count of filing a false report. James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2023 Profit motives for adoption firms created an incentive in the past to falsify or obscure documents to make more children available for adoption, sometimes without the birth parents’ knowledge. Choe Sang-Hun, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Sep. 2023 Trump was indicted in the case by a Manhattan grand jury for allegedly falsifying business records in New York. Jacqueline Alemany, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2023 McGrath was charged with wire fraud, embezzlement and falsifying a document. Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 5 Sep. 2023 Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has a trial that could last five weeks set to start March 25 on charges of falsifying business records. Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2023 In March, he was charged with falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment during his 2016 campaign. Brian Bennett, Time, 24 Aug. 2023 Trump has made similar recusal requests before, including in New York, where he is scheduled for trial in March for allegedly falsifying business records in connection to hush money payments during the 2016 presidential campaign. Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2023 Among the complaints removed are allegations of bias, falsifying police reports, and using excessive force, according to a Globe review of the databases. Sean Cotter, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'falsify.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of falsify was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near falsify

Cite this Entry

“Falsify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/falsify. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

falsify

verb
fal·​si·​fy ˈfȯl-sə-ˌfī How to pronounce falsify (audio)
falsified; falsifying
: to make false : change so as to deceive
falsify financial accounts
falsification noun
falsifier noun

Legal Definition

falsify

transitive verb
fal·​si·​fy ˈfȯl-si-ˌfī How to pronounce falsify (audio)
falsified; falsifying
: to make false: as
a
: to make (as a document) false by mutilation, alteration, or addition
the motel clerk had falsified the recordsM. A. Kelly
b
: to report (as information) falsely
the informant falsified his testimony

More from Merriam-Webster on falsify

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