falsify

play

verb fal·si·fy \ ˈfȯl-sə-ˌfī \

Definition of falsify

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

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falsifiability

play \ˌfȯl-sə-ˌfī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

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falsifiable

play \ˌfȯl-sə-ˈfī-ə-bəl\ adjective

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falsification

play \ˌfȯl-sə-fə-ˈkā-shən\ noun

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falsifier

play \ˈfȯl-sə-ˌfī(-ə)r\ noun

See falsify defined for English-language learners

See falsify defined for kids

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 of falsify from the Web

Before giving a verdict in Yingluck's case, the court will rule in the case of Yingluck's former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom who is accused of falsifying government-to-government rice deals between Thailand and China in 2013.

— reuters, Fortune, "4,000 Police Deployed to the Streets of Bangkok Ahead of Yingluck Verdict," 24 Aug. 2017
The former Spanish international midfielder was arrested on July 18th, and faced allegations of embezzlement, collusion and falsifying documents.

— SI.com, "Suspended Spanish Football Federation Boss Ángel María Villar Granted Bail for €300k," 31 July 2017
The best way to falsify overkill is to show animals went extinct before human arrival.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "Are Humans to Blame for the Disappearance of Earth’s Fantastic Beasts?," 31 July 2017
Both are former derivatives traders who were criminally charged in September 2013 with conspiring to falsify books and records of JPMorgan, wire fraud and making false filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

— larry neumeister, The Seattle Times, "US seeks dismissal of charges in ‘London Whale’ case," 21 July 2017
Failure to report such contacts can result in a loss of access to classified information and even, if information is knowingly falsified or concealed, in imprisonment.

— the new york times, NOLA.com, "Donald Trump Jr. met with Russian lawyer on promise of damaging information on Hillary Clinton," 9 July 2017
Failure to report such contacts can result in a loss of access to classified information and even, if information is knowingly falsified or concealed, in imprisonment.

— jo becker, matt apuzzo, adam goldman, Alaska Dispatch News, "Trump’s son met with Russian lawyer after being promised damaging information on Clinton," 9 July 2017
Failure to report such contacts can result in a loss of access to classified information and even, if information is knowingly falsified or concealed, in imprisonment.

— jo becker, matt apuzzo, adam goldman, Alaska Dispatch News, "Trump’s son met with Russian lawyer after being promised damaging information on Clinton," 9 July 2017
Failure to report such contacts can result in a loss of access to classified information and even, if information is knowingly falsified or concealed, in imprisonment.

— the new york times, NOLA.com, "Donald Trump Jr. met with Russian lawyer on promise of damaging information on Hillary Clinton," 9 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'falsify.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of falsify

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

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falsify Synonyms

Synonyms

bend, color, cook, distort, garble, fudge, misinterpret, misrelate, misrepresent, misstate, pervert, slant, twist, warp

Antonyms

confirm, establish, prove, validate, verify

Related Words

misdescribe, misspeak, mistranslate; belie, camouflage, disguise, dissemble, gloss (over), mask, veil, whitewash; bowdlerize, censor; complicate, confound, confuse, mistake, mix (up); mystify, obscure; equivocate, fib, lie, palter, prevaricate

Near Antonyms

clarify, clear (up), explain, illuminate, illustrate, interpret, spell out; decipher

FALSIFY Defined for English Language Learners

falsify

play

verb

Definition of falsify for English Language Learners

: to make (something) false : to change (something) in order to make people believe something that is not true

FALSIFY Defined for Kids

falsify

play

verb fal·si·fy \ ˈfȯl-sə-ˌfī \

Definition of falsify for Students

falsified; falsifying

:to change in order to deceive

They were caught falsifying their records.

Law Dictionary

falsify

play

transitive verb fal·si·fy \ ˈfȯl-si-ˌfī \

legal Definition of falsify

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

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for falsify Spanish Central: Translation of falsify Nglish: Translation of falsify for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of falsify for Arabic speakers

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Definition of falsify

falsifiability

falsifiable

falsification

falsifier

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Examples of falsify in a Sentence

Recent Examples of falsify from the Web

Origin and Etymology of falsify

falsify Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

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FALSIFY Defined for English Language Learners

falsify

Definition of falsify for English Language Learners

FALSIFY Defined for Kids

falsify

Definition of falsify for Students

Law Dictionary

falsify

legal Definition of falsify

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