falsity

/ˈfɔːlsəti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfɔːlsəti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfȯl-sə-tē/ (ame, mw)

falsity — noun

1. the condition where a claim, idea, or piece of information does not match the fa

1.名詞C1
釋義

the condition where a claim, idea, or piece of information does not match the facts and so is wrong.

例句

The researchers spent two years proving the falsity of the old medical theory.

prove + the falsity of + [noun phrase]

Yael challenged the politician to show the falsity of every accusation in court.

show + the falsity of + [noun phrase]

同義詞
  • untruth

    more neutral; covers both errors and lies

  • falseness

    near-synonym; slightly more about quality than instances

  • inaccuracy

    narrower; focuses on factual error rather than overall falseness

反義詞
  • truth

    the everyday opposite

  • accuracy

    opposite when the focus is on factual correctness

文法句型

the falsity of [claim/statement]

用法筆記

Almost always appears as 'the falsity of [something]', where the something is a claim, statement, theory, or rumour rather than a person.

常見錯誤

❌He told a falsity about the meeting.
✅He told a lie about the meeting.
💡use sense 3 ('a falsity') only in formal writing; everyday speech uses 'lie'.
❌The falsity of John surprised us.
✅The falsity of his story surprised us.
💡'falsity of' attaches to an idea or statement, not a person.

2. the quality someone shows when their words, feelings, or behaviour are not real

2.名詞C2
釋義

the quality someone shows when their words, feelings, or behaviour are not real and only meant to please or deceive others.

例句

Beatriz could sense the falsity in her cousin's warm welcome at the family dinner.

sense + the falsity in + [noun phrase]

The actor's tears looked real on stage, but the audience felt the falsity behind them.

同義詞
  • insincerity

    more common everyday word for the same idea

  • hypocrisy

    stronger; implies the person also pretends to hold values they do not

  • phoniness

    informal; same meaning but used in casual speech

反義詞

文法句型

the falsity of [smile/emotion/manner]

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: here 'falsity' criticises a person's manner or emotion as fake; in sense 1 it judges a statement as factually wrong.

常見錯誤

❌Her smile had a falsity.
✅There was a falsity to her smile.
💡prefer 'a falsity to X' or 'the falsity of X', not 'X has a falsity'.

3. a single spoken or written statement that is not true, especially one spread to

3.名詞C2
釋義

a single spoken or written statement that is not true, especially one spread to mislead other people.

例句

The newspaper printed several falsities about the mayor's family during the election.

print + falsities about + [person]

Darius warned his students against repeating online falsities without checking the original source.

repeat + online falsities

同義詞
  • lie

    everyday equivalent; far more common in speech

  • untruth

    slightly softer than 'lie'; common in formal contexts

  • fabrication

    stronger; suggests the statement was carefully invented

反義詞
  • fact

    the standard opposite

  • truth

    the broader opposite

文法句型

a falsity about [topic]

spread falsities

用法筆記

Countable in this sense ('a falsity', 'three falsities') — differs from senses 1 and 2, which are uncountable. In everyday speech, 'lie' or 'untruth' is far more common.

常見錯誤

❌She told me a falsity yesterday at lunch.
✅She told me a lie yesterday at lunch.
💡'a falsity' belongs in formal writing about claims and reports, not in casual speech about everyday lies.