False True Fɔːls Proved Gave Extra Examples Real

• a whale is a fish. true or false?
• predictions of an early improvement in the housing market proved false.
• she gave false information to the insurance company.
• he used a false name to get the job.

false

1. wrong; not correct or true
• A whale is a fish. True or false?
• Predictions of an early improvement in the housing market proved false.
• She gave false information to the insurance company.
• He used a false name to get the job.
• His career was ruined by false accusations.
• The allegations are completely false.
• This claim is simply false.
• The law can punish knowingly false statements.

Extra Examples

• Lagos is the capital of Nigeria. True or false?
• The gossip about her later proved to be entirely false.
• Their claim was patently false.
2. not natural
• SYNONYM artificial
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/artificial
• false teeth/eyelashes
• a false beard
3. not real or what somebody claims it is, but made to look real to cheat people
• He had been travelling with a false passport.
• The case had a false bottom where documents or even a small radio could be hidden.
4. wrong or not accurate, because it is based on something that is not true or correct
• a false argument/assumption/belief
• to give a false impression of wealth
• to lull somebody into a false sense of security (= make somebody feel safe when they are really in danger)
• They didn't want to raise any false hopes, but they believed her husband had escaped capture.
• Buying a cheap computer is a false economy (= will not actually save you money).
• If you don't do the test right, it can lead to false positives.

Extra Examples

• We had been lulled into a false sense of security.
• The couple had given the false impression of a blissfully happy marriage.
• His argument is based on the false assumption that all women want children.
• I don't want to raise any false hopes, but I think he's still alive.
• Those who were thought to hold false beliefs were persecuted.
5. not real or sincere
• false modesty
• She flashed him a false smile of congratulation.

Extra Examples

• Helen's voice sounded slightly false.
• She managed a horribly false smile.
• She gave a tinkly little laugh, which sounded horribly false even to her own ears.
• Come on—this is no time for false modesty.
6. not faithful
• a false lover
7. by pretending to be something that you are not, in order to gain some advantage for yourself
• She was accused of obtaining money under false pretences.
8. to give the impression of being sincere/true or not sincere/true
• It may seem a strange story but it rings true to me.
• His expressions of support rang rather hollow.
• His promise rang hollow.

Word Origin

• Old English fals ‘fraud, deceit’, from Latin falsum ‘fraud’, neuter past participle of fallere ‘deceive’; reinforced or re-formed in Middle English from Old French fals, faus ‘false’.