# untrue

/ənˈtɹu/ (US) · /ʌntɹˈuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/untrue
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. false or incorrect

adjective · CEFR B1

not based on facts; false.

For teachers: factually inaccurate or not in accordance with reality.

- The rumours about the company closing down turned out to be completely untrue.
- The witness provided a statement that was later proven to be untrue during the cross-examination by the defence attorney.

### 2. not loyal

adjective · CEFR B2 · Literary

not faithful to a partner, friend, or duty.

For teachers: lacking in loyalty or fidelity; specifically used regarding romantic partners or moral obligations.

- He felt guilty because he had been untrue to his wife.
- The protagonist struggles with the consequences of being untrue to his principles in order to achieve professional success.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'to'.

Teaching tip: In modern conversation, 'unfaithful' is much more common than 'untrue' when talking about romantic relationships.

## Examples

- The story about the missing money is completely untrue.
- She felt hurt when she heard the untrue rumours that her colleagues were spreading about her work ethic.
- While the witness's testimony was not intentionally deceptive, several of the details provided were later proven to be untrue by forensic evidence.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.