ENGLISH
REFERENCE

liar

n. countable
A2 Elementary US //ˈɫaɪɝ// UK //lˈaɪə// liar Archaic

n. someone who tells things that are not true. You use this word to describe a person who lies on purpose.

n. a person who tells lies or has a habit of being untruthful. While the core meaning is neutral, it is frequently used as a pejorative or an accusation.


SIMPLE

He is a liar and cannot be trusted.

CONTEXTUAL

The witness was exposed as a liar when the security footage proved he was not at the scene.

COMPLEX

In political discourse, the label of liar is often used to discredit an opponent's entire platform rather than to address specific factual inaccuracies.

Synonyms
Origin

Inherited from Middle English lier, liere, lyere, liȝer, lieȝer, legher, from Old English lēgere, lēogere (“liar, false witness, hypocrite”), from Proto-West Germanic leugārī, from Proto-Germanic leugārijaz (“liar”), from leuganą (“to lie”) + -ārijaz, equivalent to lie + -ar. More at lie.

Usage

Commonly used in the phrase 'a habitual liar' or 'a pathological liar'.

Idioms1 entry

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