false
UK: fɔːls | US: fɒls
adj. not true or correct; incorrect
adj. deliberately made to deceive; artificial
adj. disloyal or treacherous
false = fals<deceive> + e<adjective suffix>
- fals (from Latin falsus, meaning "deceptive" or "wrong")
- e (a common adjectival suffix in English, often silent in pronunciation)
Etymology Origin:
The word "false" traces back to the Latin falsus, the past participle of fallere ("to deceive"). It entered Old English via Old French fals, retaining its core meaning of deception or untruth. Over time, the spelling simplified to "false," while the suffix "-e" became a marker of its adjectival form. The word’s evolution reflects a consistent association with dishonesty, whether in factual errors or intentional deceit.
The witness gave a false statement to the police.
She wore false eyelashes for the party.
His friendly smile turned out to be false.
The experiment produced false results due to contamination.
Accusing someone without proof is a false accusation.