untrue
/ʌnˈtruː/ (bre, ipa) · [əntrˈu] /ʌnˈtruː/ (ame, ipa) · [əntrˈu] /ˌən-ˈtrü How to pronounce untrue (audio)/ (ame, mw)
untrue — adjective
- untruepositive
- more untruecomparative
- most untruesuperlative
1. not founded on fact; incorrect or inaccurate — said of a statement, claim, rumou
not founded on fact; incorrect or inaccurate — said of a statement, claim, rumour, or piece of information that is wrong.
The newspaper published several untrue claims about the mayor's financial dealings.
collocation: untrue claims / untrue statements
Anjali proved that the rumour was completely untrue by showing everyone the original email.
It is untrue to say that the company never warned employees about the budget cuts.
Christopher's story about meeting a celebrity sounded so wild that I knew it was untrue.
The investigation confirmed that the accusation had been untrue all along, and the charges were dropped.
- false
more common and versatile; can describe emotions, documents, hopes, not just statements
- incorrect
more neutral and factual; preferred in educational and technical contexts (e.g. incorrect answer)
- misleading
creates a wrong impression without necessarily being outright false; can apply to partial truths
文法句型
untrue + noun (untrue statement / untrue claim / untrue rumour)
it + be + untrue + that-clause
用法筆記
Common in formal or written contexts such as news reports, legal documents, and official statements. In everyday conversation, 'false' or 'not true' are more frequent. Distinguish from sense 3 (NOT LEVEL), which refers to physical alignment.
常見錯誤
2. failing to remain loyal or faithful to someone who has a right to expect your co
failing to remain loyal or faithful to someone who has a right to expect your commitment — especially a romantic partner, a friend, or an ally in a shared cause.
In the novel, the count remains honourable throughout, while his wife is the one who proves untrue.
prove untrue — common literary pattern for betrayal
Anjali refused to stay in a relationship with someone who had been untrue to her.
The politician was accused of being untrue to the values he had once championed.
Benjamin felt hurt when he discovered that his business partner had been untrue to their agreement.
- disloyal
broader; applies to any relationship of allegiance — country, employer, friend, family
- unfaithful
most common for romantic or sexual relationships in everyday speech
- faithless
more literary and emphatic; suggests a deeper character flaw
文法句型
untrue + to + noun phrase (untrue to one's word / untrue to a partner)
prove + untrue (in reference to fidelity)
用法筆記
Frequently appears in literary or slightly old-fashioned writing. In everyday modern speech, 'disloyal' (for friends, groups, causes) and 'unfaithful' (for romantic partners) are far more common. Subject of the loyalty can be a person, an organisation, or an abstract principle ('untrue to one's beliefs').
常見錯誤
3. not exactly straight, level, or correctly positioned — said of a physical surfac
not exactly straight, level, or correctly positioned — said of a physical surface, edge, or mechanical part that deviates from the intended plane or alignment.
The carpenter found the shelf was slightly untrue and adjusted the bracket underneath.
Diego checked the door frame with a spirit level and discovered it was untrue by nearly a centimetre.
untrue by [measurement] — technical pattern for quantifying misalignment
The old wall had settled over the years, making the window frame untrue and difficult to open.
The picture frame was slightly untrue, so Mei tapped the nail sideways to straighten it.
- out of true
the more common modern equivalent in carpentry and engineering
- crooked
less technical; used for visibly bent or twisted objects in everyday speech
- warped
specifically describes distortion caused by moisture, heat, or pressure
文法句型
untrue + by + measurement (untrue by two millimetres)
be + untrue (in reference to a surface, edge, or part)
用法筆記
Almost exclusively a specialist or craft term. In everyday English, 'not straight', 'not level', 'out of true', or 'crooked' replace this sense. 'Out of true' (e.g. 'the frame is out of true') is actually more common in modern workshop contexts.