falsehood
/ˈfɔːlshʊd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfɔːlshʊd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfȯls-ˌhu̇d/ (ame, mw)
falsehood — noun
- falsehoodsingular
- falsehoodsplural
1. the practice of saying things that are not true, or the habit of doing so delibe
the practice of saying things that are not true, or the habit of doing so deliberately.
The historian argued that the regime relied on falsehood to maintain its power.
uncountable: falsehood as a general practice
The journalist grew frustrated with the culture of falsehood in the advertising industry.
collocation: culture of falsehood
The ethics committee was dismayed by the level of falsehood in the testimony.
The teacher explained to the class that falsehood damages the trust between people.
The biography was criticized for its reliance on falsehood rather than documented fact.
- lying
more direct and common in everyday speech
- mendacity
more formal and literary; refers to a habitual inclination to lie
- dishonesty
broader — covers any lack of truthfulness, not just spoken lies
- deceit
emphasises the intent to mislead or trick others
- truthfulness
opposite quality; the habit of telling the truth
- honesty
broader opposite; includes truthfulness in actions and words
文法句型
falsehood (as an abstract quality or practice)
用法筆記
Uncountable — refers to lying as a general practice or quality, not to any single untrue statement. Typically used in formal or serious contexts such as journalism, politics, and ethics.
常見錯誤
2. a specific statement that is deliberately untrue or incorrect.
a specific statement that is deliberately untrue or incorrect.
The local reporter was fired for publishing a falsehood about the mayor's campaign finances.
countable: a falsehood = one untrue statement
The child admitted to telling a falsehood about where the money came from.
collocation: tell a falsehood
The scientist described the claim as a demonstrable falsehood backed by no evidence.
The online magazine printed a correction after discovering the falsehood in last week's article.
The candidate repeated the same falsehood so often that many voters began to accept it as fact.
- lie
more direct and common; used in both formal and informal settings
- untruth
more formal and somewhat euphemistic; softer than 'lie'
- fabrication
emphasises that the statement was invented or made up
- fib
informal; used for small or harmless lies
文法句型
a falsehood
falsehoods (plural)
用法筆記
Countable — refers to one specific untrue statement. Plural is falsehoods. More formal than 'lie'; common in journalism, politics, and academic writing.