FALSE
Dictionary entry overview: What does false mean?
• FALSE (adjective)
The adjective FALSE has 10 senses:
1. not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
2. arising from error
3. erroneous and usually accidental
4. deliberately deceptive
5. inappropriate to reality or facts
6. not genuine or real; being an imitation of the genuine article
7. designed to deceive
8. inaccurate in pitch
9. adopted in order to deceive
10. (used especially of persons) not dependable in devotion or affection; unfaithful
Familiarity information: FALSE used as an adjective is familiar.
• FALSE (adverb)
The adverb FALSE has 1 sense:
1. in a disloyal and faithless manner
Familiarity information: FALSE used as an adverb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
• FALSE (adjective)
Meaning:
Not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
Context examples:
gave false testimony under oath / false tales of bravery
Similar:
untrue (not according with the facts)
trumped-up (concocted with intent to deceive)
specious; spurious (plausible but false)
mendacious (intentionally untrue)
Also:
insincere (lacking sincerity)
dishonest; dishonorable (deceptive or fraudulent; disposed to cheat or defraud or deceive)
counterfeit; imitative (not genuine; imitating something superior)
incorrect; wrong (not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth)
Attribute:
the true; trueness; truth; verity (conformity to reality or actuality)
Antonym:
true (consistent with fact or reality; not false)
Meaning:
Arising from error
Synonyms:
false; mistaken
Context examples:
a false assumption / a mistaken view of the situation
Similar:
incorrect; wrong (not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth)
Meaning:
Erroneous and usually accidental
Context examples:
a false start / a false alarm
Similar:
invalid (having no cogency or legal force)
Meaning:
Deliberately deceptive
Synonyms:
hollow; false
Context examples:
hollow (or false) promises / false pretenses
Similar:
insincere (lacking sincerity)
Meaning:
Inappropriate to reality or facts
Synonyms:
delusive; false
Context examples:
delusive faith in a wonder drug / delusive expectations / false hopes
Similar:
unrealistic (not realistic)
Meaning:
Not genuine or real; being an imitation of the genuine article
Synonyms:
simulated; imitation; faux; fake; false
Context examples:
it isn't fake anything; it's real synthetic fur / faux pearls / false teeth / decorated with imitation palm leaves / a purse of simulated alligator hide
Similar:
artificial; unreal (contrived by art rather than nature)
Meaning:
Designed to deceive
Context example:
a suitcase with a false bottom
Similar:
dishonest; dishonorable (deceptive or fraudulent; disposed to cheat or defraud or deceive)
Meaning:
Inaccurate in pitch
Synonyms:
off-key; sour; false
Context examples:
a false (or sour) note / her singing was off key
Similar:
inharmonious; unharmonious (not in harmony)
Meaning:
Adopted in order to deceive
Synonyms:
sham; put on; pretended; fictive; fictitious; assumed; false
Context examples:
an assumed name / an assumed cheerfulness / a fictitious address / fictive sympathy / a pretended interest / a put-on childish voice / sham modesty
Similar:
counterfeit; imitative (not genuine; imitating something superior)
Meaning:
(used especially of persons) not dependable in devotion or affection; unfaithful
Synonyms:
untrue; false
Context examples:
a false friend / when lovers prove untrue
Similar:
inconstant (likely to change frequently often without apparent or cogent reason; variable)
• FALSE (adverb)
Meaning:
In a disloyal and faithless manner
Synonyms:
faithlessly; false; traitorously; treacherously; treasonably
Context examples:
he behaved treacherously / his wife played him false
"You will not rise to the occasion, you will default to the level of your training" (English proverb)
"The drunk ones will sober up, but the mad ones will not clever up" (Breton proverb)
"If you had an opinion you better be determined." (Arabic proverb)
"Whilst doing one learns." (Dutch proverb)
