falsehood

Noun

falsehood (countable and uncountable, plural falsehoods)

1. (uncountable) The property of being false.
   • Every such idiom is what is known as a truth function, and is characterized by the fact that the truth or falsehood of the complex statement which it generates is uniquely determined by the truth or falsehood of the several statements which it combines.1976, Willard Van Orman Quine, The Ways of Paradox, and other essays, page 89

   Synonyms:

   falsity

2. (countable) A false statement, especially an intentional one; a lie.
   • Don't tell falsehoods.
   • The fact checking, which started Sunday, stands in stark contrast to the he-said, she-said nature of most television chatfests, even though PolitiFact’s work takes place well after the facts and possible falsehoods are first uttered on TV.2010 April 12, Brian Stelter, “‘This Week’ Is Adding Online Fact Checks”, in The New York Times

   Synonyms:

   lie, crock

3. (archaic, rare) Mendacity, deceitfulness; the trait of lying.
   • THE LEPROSY OF NAAMAN INFLICTED ON GEHAZI, FOR HIS FALSEHOOD AND COVETOUSNESS.1817, Robert Stevenson, Scripture Portraits, volume 1, page 155
   • O mortal, eschew falsehood and flattery. Death flayeth and killeth the false one: The apostate suffereth for his falsehood and pride; he is tormented in both worlds. Renounce slander and envy of others.1963, M. Arthur Macauliffe, The Sikh Religion: its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors, page 7

   Synonyms:

   falseness, mendacity