falsehood
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'.
“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.”
“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.”
From Middle English falshede, from false + -hede, equivalent to false + -hood.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.