falsehood
noun
false·hood
ˈfȯls-ˌhu̇d 
1
: an untrue statement : lie
spreading falsehoods about his opponent
2
: absence of truth or accuracy
The falsehood of this narrative made it no less effective.—
Peniel E. Joseph
Peniel E. Joseph3
: the practice of lying : mendacity
… Thomas Jefferson … accused the press of engaging in "falsehood and defamation" while covering his administration.—Albert R. Hunt
Albert R. HuntExamples of falsehood in a Sentence
the line between truth and falsehood
the possibility of a perpetual motion machine is one falsehood that has been disproved by modern physics
Recent Examples on the Web
Glitchy programming isn’t the only font of falsehood.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2026
Trump has targeted freedom of speech, attempting to control and change information — often with misinformation and falsehoods — to push his views into the media, higher education, national museums and the arts.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 23 Jan. 2026
On a far too frequent basis, Americans have listened to the erratic falsehoods of a pathologically narcissistic president while our Republican leaders in Congress cower in the corners of their offices in a state of self-protective paralysis.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2026
Powell and Giuliani settled lawsuits with Dominion over election falsehoods.
—Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for falsehood
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Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2026
Trump has targeted freedom of speech, attempting to control and change information — often with misinformation and falsehoods — to push his views into the media, higher education, national museums and the arts.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 23 Jan. 2026
On a far too frequent basis, Americans have listened to the erratic falsehoods of a pathologically narcissistic president while our Republican leaders in Congress cower in the corners of their offices in a state of self-protective paralysis.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2026
Powell and Giuliani settled lawsuits with Dominion over election falsehoods.
—Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for falsehood
Cite this Entry
“Falsehood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/falsehood. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
falsehood
noun
false·hood
ˈfȯls-ˌhu̇d
1
: an untrue statement : lie
2
: the habit of lying
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