Word
falsehood
Phoneticsfalse·hood, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfæɫsˌhʊd/
UK/fˈɒlshʊd/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a statement that is not true. It is a more formal and slightly older word for a lie.
n. a statement that is untrue or deceptive. Often carries a more formal or literary tone than 'lie'.
Examples
“He was caught in a falsehood.”
“The politician's entire campaign was built on a series of deliberate falsehoods about his past.”
“The philosopher argued that the pursuit of truth requires a willingness to confront the uncomfortable reality of one's own falsehoods.”
Examples
simple
“He was caught in a falsehood.”
contextual
“The politician's entire campaign was built on a series of deliberate falsehoods about his past.”
complex
“The philosopher argued that the pursuit of truth requires a willingness to confront the uncomfortable reality of one's own falsehoods.”
Real-World Examples
“The MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, one of the leading promoters of falsehoods about election fraud in the US, said he would support the county’s effort.” Etymology
From Middle English falshede, from false + -hede, equivalent to false + -hood.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/falsehood