mistruth

noun

mis·​truth ˌmis-ˈtrüth 

plural mistruths ˌmis-ˈtrüt͟hz 

-ˈtrüths

: a false or misleading statement : falsehood

The general drift of the thoughtful, worried essays was that the reported instances of deliberate mistruth on the part of scientists seem to be on the increase …

—Lewis Thomas

Examples of mistruth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At itsworst though misinformation − and its ugly friend disinformation − can radicalize those that consume it, or trick them into believing harmful mistruths about anything from medicine to politics. —Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 7 June 2023

Weeks of misunderstandings and mistruths multiplied after that filing. —Sharon Grigsby, Dallas News, 2 June 2023

But accountability for the main person who communicated the mistruths about 2020? —Chuck Todd, NBC News, 19 Apr. 2023

There are allegations and there have been through many elections that there is deception, untruth and mistruth in the election results. —Bill Glauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above