false Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
    • gave false testimony under oath
    • false tales of bravery
  2. adjective satellite arising from error
    mistaken.
    • a false assumption
    • a mistaken view of the situation
  3. adjective satellite erroneous and usually accidental
    • a false start
    • a false alarm
  4. adjective satellite deliberately deceptive
    • false pretenses
  5. adjective satellite inappropriate to reality or facts
    delusive.
    • delusive faith in a wonder drug
    • delusive expectations
    • false hopes
  6. adjective satellite not genuine or real; being an imitation of the genuine article; it's real synthetic fur"
    faux; simulated; imitation; fake.
    • it isn't fake anything
    • faux pearls
    • false teeth
    • decorated with imitation palm leaves
    • a purse of simulated alligator hide
  7. adjective satellite designed to deceive
    • a suitcase with a false bottom
  8. adjective satellite inaccurate in pitch
    off-key; sour.
    • a false (or sour) note
    • her singing was off key
  9. adjective satellite adopted in order to deceive
    put on; assumed; pretended; fictitious; fictive; sham.
    • an assumed name
    • an assumed cheerfulness
    • a fictitious address
    • fictive sympathy
    • a pretended interest
    • a put-on childish voice
    • sham modesty
  10. adjective satellite (used especially of persons) not dependable in devotion or affection; unfaithful
    untrue.
    • a false friend
    • when lovers prove untrue
  11. adverb in a disloyal and faithless manner
    faithlessly; treacherously; treasonably; traitorously.
    • he behaved treacherously
    • his wife played him false

WordNet

False adjective
Etymology
L. falsus, p.p. of fallere to deceive; cf. OF. faus, fals, F. faux, and AS. fals fraud. See Fail, Fall.
Wordforms
comparative Falser ; superlative Falsest
Definitions
  1. Uttering falsehood; unveracious; given to deceit; dishnest; as, a false witness.
  2. Not faithful or loyal, as to obligations, allegiance, vows, etc.; untrue; treacherous; perfidious; as, a false friend, lover, or subject; false to promises.
    I to myself was false, ere thou to me. Milton.
  3. Not according with truth or reality; not true; fitted or likely to deceive or disappoint; as, a false statement.
  4. Not genuine or real; assumed or designed to deceive; counterfeit; hypocritical; as, false tears; false modesty; false colors; false jewelry.
    False face must hide what the false heart doth know. Shak.
  5. Not well founded; not firm or trustworthy; erroneous; as, a false claim; a false conclusion; a false construction in grammar.
    Whose false foundation waves have swept away. Spenser.
  6. Not essential or permanent, as parts of a structure which are temporary or supplemental.
  7. (Mus.) Not in tune.
False adverb
Definitions
  1. Not truly; not honestly; falsely. "You play me false." Shak.
False transitive verb
Etymology
L. falsare to falsify, fr. falsus: cf. F. fausser. See False, a.
Definitions
  1. To report falsely; to falsify. Obs. Chaucer.
  2. To betray; to falsify. Obs.
    [He] hath his truthe falsed in this wise. Chaucer.
  3. To mislead by want of truth; to deceive. Obs.
    In his falsed fancy. Spenser.
  4. To feign; to pretend to make. Obs. "And falsed oft his blows." Spenser.

Webster 1913