untrue

/ʌnˈtruː/ (bre, ipa) · [əntrˈu] /ʌnˈtruː/ (ame, ipa) · [əntrˈu] /ˌən-ˈtrü How to pronounce untrue (audio)/ (ame, mw)

untrue — 形容詞

  • untruepositive
  • more untruecomparative
  • most untruesuperlative

1. not founded on fact; incorrect or inaccurate — said of a statement, claim, rumou

1.形容詞B2
釋義

不實的

與事實不符的

not founded on fact; incorrect or inaccurate — said of a statement, claim, rumour, or piece of information that is wrong.

例句

The newspaper published several untrue claims about the mayor's financial dealings.

這家報紙刊登了幾則關於市長財務狀況的不實報導。

collocation: untrue claims / untrue statements

Anjali proved that the rumour was completely untrue by showing everyone the original email.

Anjali 把原始電子郵件給大家看，證明了那個傳聞完全不實。

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • true

    direct opposite; covers facts, statements, and information

  • accurate

    emphasises precision and exactness rather than truthfulness

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

❌She told an untrue story about a dragon' (when meaning fictional/imaginative).
✅She told a made-up story about a dragon
💡'untrue' implies deliberate falsehood or factual error, not creative fiction.

2. failing to remain loyal or faithful to someone who has a right to expect your co

2.形容詞B2
釋義

不忠的

對伴侶或盟友不忠誠的

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.

例句

In the novel, the count remains honourable throughout, while his wife is the one who proves untrue.

在這本小說裡，伯爵始終保持高尚的品格，反而是他的妻子做出了不忠的行為。

prove untrue — common literary pattern for betrayal

Anjali refused to stay in a relationship with someone who had been untrue to her.

Anjali 不願意和一個對她不忠的人繼續維持關係。

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • loyal

    direct opposite; describes reliable commitment to a person, group, or principle

  • faithful

    common opposite in romantic and relational contexts

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

❌He was untrue to the exam by cheating' (wrong context).
✅He was unfaithful during the exam by cheating' or 'He was dishonest on the exam
💡'untrue to' requires a relationship of loyalty (person, group, principle), not a rule or test.

3. not exactly straight, level, or correctly positioned — said of a physical surfac

3.形容詞C1
釋義

不平準

未對齊或未保持水平的

not exactly straight, level, or correctly positioned — said of a physical surface, edge, or mechanical part that deviates from the intended plane or alignment.

例句

The carpenter found the shelf was slightly untrue and adjusted the bracket underneath.

木工發現層板稍微不平準，於是調整了底部的托架。

Diego checked the door frame with a spirit level and discovered it was untrue by nearly a centimetre.

Diego 用水準儀檢查門框，發現它歪了將近一公分。

untrue by [measurement] — technical pattern for quantifying misalignment

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • true

    direct opposite — describes something perfectly straight, level, or aligned

  • straight

    everyday term for linear correctness

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.

常見錯誤

❌The painting on the wall was untrue' (meaning crooked).
✅The painting on the wall was crooked / not straight / out of true
💡this sense of 'untrue' is not used for pictures or small hanging items; it applies to structural surfaces, frames, and mechanical parts.