WordGarden.iofalse
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /fˈɒls/
US
- /ˈfɔls/
Meanings
Adjective
not true or correct
not real, genuine, or sincere
invalid or wrong under the rules of a game or activity
Noun
the Boolean value representing untruth in logic or programming
Beyond the definition
Something that is false is not true, not real, or not correct. It can look right at first, but when you look more closely, you see that it does not match reality. A false alarm, for example, can send people running even though there is no real danger.
False can describe statements, reports, ideas, appearances, and feelings. You might hear about false information, a false name, false teeth, or false hope. It is the opposite of true and often suggests that something gives the wrong impression, either by mistake or on purpose. Think of a false bottom in a box: it looks normal, but it hides something underneath.
The word false describes something that is untrue, incorrect, fake, or misleading. It is used when something does not match the facts, does not reflect reality, or only seems genuine on the surface. If a witness gives false testimony in court, for example, the witness says something that is not true. If a website gives false information, it leads people in the wrong direction.
False is used in many everyday and formal situations. A false alarm is a warning that turns out to be wrong. A false statement is a claim that is not true. A false promise is a promise that someone does not intend to keep or cannot keep. A false name is one used to hide a person's real identity. In physical objects, false can also mean artificial or added to copy the real thing, as in false teeth, false eyelashes, or a false wall.
The word can also describe feelings, beliefs, and impressions. A false hope gives someone confidence without a real reason. A false sense of security makes a person feel safe when danger still exists. A false impression forms when someone understands a situation in the wrong way. In these cases, the problem is not always a direct lie; sometimes the appearance itself is simply misleading.
So false is a flexible word. It can describe lies, mistakes, copies, disguises, and appearances that do not tell the whole truth. Whether it refers to language, objects, or ideas, it points to a gap between what seems to be true and what actually is true.
Examples
- 1
Truth status
The rumor turned out to be false.
- 2
Police
She gave the police a false name.
- 3
Medical advertising
The ad created false hope for many patients.
- 4
Warning
The smoke detector went off, but it was a false alarm.
- Phrasefalse alarm
a warning about danger when there is no real danger
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Test result
This kind of test can sometimes give a false positive.
- 6
Online impression
The website gives a false impression of how easy the job is.
- 7
Deception
He got into the building under false pretenses.
- Phraseunder false pretenses
by lying about who you are or why you are there
- 8
Hidden compartment
The drawer had a false bottom with money hidden inside.
- Phrasefalse bottom
a hidden extra bottom inside a box or drawer
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- false claim
- false statement
- false impression
- false alarm
Word family
Explore
- truth value
- deception
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- falseadjectiveadverb