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false

adjective
\ ˈfȯls How to pronounce false (audio) \
falser; falsest

Definition of false

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : not genuine false documents false teeth
2a : intentionally untrue false testimony
b : adjusted or made so as to deceive false scales a trunk with a false bottom
c : intended or tending to mislead a false promise
3 : not true false concepts
4a : not faithful or loyal : treacherous a false friend
b : lacking naturalness or sincerity false sympathy
5a : not essential or permanent —used of parts of a structure that are temporary or supplemental
b : fitting over a main part to strengthen it, to protect it, or to disguise its appearance a false ceiling
6 : inaccurate in pitch a false note
7a : based on mistaken ideas false pride
b : inconsistent with the facts a false position a false sense of security
8 : threateningly sudden or deceptive don't make any false moves

false

adverb

Definition of false (Entry 2 of 2)

: in a false or faithless manner : treacherously his friends played him false
Other Words from false Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about false

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Other Words from false

Adjective

falsely adverb
falseness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for false

Adjective

faithless, false, disloyal, traitorous, treacherous, perfidious mean untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance. faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty. faithless allies false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery. betrayed by false friends disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country. disloyal to their country traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust. traitorous acts punishable by death treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence. a treacherous adviser perfidious adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability. a perfidious double-crosser

Examples of false in a Sentence

Adjective

 Indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false. He registered at the hotel under a false name.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

 More than that, a false hope of salvation can be actively harmful. — Jonathan Franzen, The New Yorker, "What If We Stopped Pretending?," 8 Sep. 2019 In other words, the NY Fed's model could be giving off a false positive because of the enormous distortions in the bond market. — Matt Egan, CNN, "Wall Street's favorite recession signal suggests the economy is in trouble," 6 Sep. 2019 With hair tucked in his boots, Carroll now operates as false nine. — SI.com, "Three Years On: How 2019 England Might Have Looked if Sam Allardyce Was Still in Charge," 4 Sep. 2019 One thing is for sure, though: Once these two powerhouses meet, Ocasio-Cortez will definitely have that false eyelash application down pat. — Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Is Getting a Makeover From Drag Race Star Shuga Cain," 4 Sep. 2019 The woman whom Wohl described as the accuser against Mueller told USA Today this year that no such assault had occurred and said Wohl approached her under a false identity. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, "Conservative provocateur Jacob Wohl charged with financial crime in Riverside County," 4 Sep. 2019 Latasha Wisniewski, 38, used the false promise of romance to gain the trust of Charles Bauer, an 89-year-old Korean War veteran and widower, then looted much of his life’s savings in a matter of months, prosecutors said. — Cory Shaffer, cleveland.com, "Strongsville woman found guilty of looting ailing Korean War vet’s bank account through phony marriage promise," 3 Sep. 2019 In New Jersey, for example, our partner WNYC reported on how a company provided a false answer on an application for tax incentives, leading the state to freeze the firm’s $260 million tax break. — ProPublica, "ProPublica Wants Pitches for State Government Investigations. Apply for a Spot in Our Local Reporting Network.," 3 Sep. 2019 The complaint alleges that McKenzie knowingly under-reported the monthly taxable sales to the accountant, who then filed the false sales tax returns. — Mary Divine, Twin Cities, "Co-owner of Cottage Grove boat, snowmobile dealership pleads guilty to defrauding state of $3.2 million," 3 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

 Meanwhile, forcing axioms, which deem the continuum hypothesis false by adding a new size of infinity, would also extend the frontiers of mathematics in other directions. — Quanta Magazine, "To Settle Infinity Dispute, a New Law of Logic," 26 Nov. 2013 Any assertion otherwise on the latter front rings false given that, as acting commissioner, Selig had to have known about the FBI’s Operation Equine, an early ’90s investigation into PED distribution that included McGwire and Canseco. — Jay Jaffe, SI.com, "Roger Clemens, Arguably the Greatest Pitcher of All-Time, Is Trending Toward Hall of Fame Induction," 13 Dec. 2017

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

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First Known Use of false

Adjective

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for false

Adjective and Adverb

Middle English fals, faus, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin falsus, from past participle of fallere to deceive

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More Definitions for false

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