false
- 1Not true, and not matching the facts.
Like saying the sky is green when it is really blue.
The rumor about the school closing turned out to be false.
The rumor about free pizza on Friday was completely false.
UsageSay a claim is false, but an answer is usually wrong.
Similaruntrue, incorrect, inaccurate, wrong, erroneous
Oppositetrue, correct, accurate, factual
Note
- 2
- 3Wrong or not based on real facts, so it gives the wrong idea, like a false sense of safety.
Like a ladder that looks safe but breaks when you climb it.
Don't build false hope from a single good day.
The locked door gave them a false sense of safety.
UsagePeople often say false hope or a false sense of security.
Similarmistaken, misleading, unfounded, groundless, illusory
Oppositetrue, real, genuine, accurate
Note
- 4In computer logic, one of two values, meaning 'no' or 'not true'.
Like a light switch turned off instead of on.
If the password is wrong, the check returns false.
The test returned false because the number was too small.
UsageSay a test returns false.
Oppositetrue
Note
- 5On a true-or-false test, the choice meaning something is not correct.
Like choosing 'no' instead of 'yes' on a quiz.
She circled false for the last question.
He chose false because the sentence was wrong.
Oppositetrue
- 6Of a person: not honest or loyal. Lying to or betraying others.
Like a person who smiles at you but says bad things when you leave.
A false friend will lie to your face and laugh later.
She knew he was false and could not be trusted.
UsagePeople say someone proved false.
Similardisloyal, treacherous, faithless, deceitful, dishonest
- 7Part of a plant or animal's common name, showing it looks like another kind but is not really that kind.
Like fake fur that looks like real fur but isn't.
The false widow spider looks like a deadly black widow but is far less dangerous.
The false acacia looks a little like an acacia, but it is a different kind of tree.
UsageSay false + the name: false morel.
Oppositetrue
Note
Less common meanings
- 8In a dishonest way that betrays someone's trust.
He played her false and ran off with the savings.
If you play me false, I will never trust you again.
UsageSay play someone false; otherwise use falsely.
Similartreacherously, dishonestly, deceitfully, faithlessly
Oppositefaithfully, loyally, honestly
Note
- 9Not in tune, with notes that sound too high or too low.
Like singing notes that don't match the music playing behind you.
Her violin sounded false in the cold, drafty hall.
He hit a false note that made the whole choir wince.
UsageSay a note sounds false.
Similaroff-key, discordant, untuned
Note
- 10To wrongly read random noise as if it were a real signal.
Like a smoke alarm that beeps at steam instead of real smoke.
Cheap radios sometimes false when static spikes near the limit.
The decoder falsed and printed a string of garbage characters.
Note
- 11To change something true into something untrue and spoil it.
Note
- 12To make a fake copy of something so as to cheat people.
Note
- 13To break a promise or betray a person's trust.
And he that could with giftes and promiſes, Inueigle him that lead a thouſand horſe, And make him falſe his faith vnto his King, Will quickly win ſuch as be like himſelfe.
c. 1587, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. The First PartHere, false means break or betray, going back on his promised loyalty.Note
- 14To start a race too early, before the signal to go.
Records have been broken, races have been dedicated, dreams have been dreamed, starts have been falsed and nouns have been verbed.
2011, Harry Pearson, “London 2012 can legacy by verbing the noun”
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
It comes from Latin falsus, meaning "false" or "counterfeit," from fallo, "to deceive." It came into English through Old English and was reinforced by Old French.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 5 facts
- English false derives from Latin falsus. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin falsus means false or counterfeit. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin falsus derives from fallō, meaning to deceive. en.wiktionary.org
- The word passed into English through Old English. en.wiktionary.org
- Old French reinforced the English word. en.wiktionary.org