/ fɔːls; NAmE / adjective
NOT TRUE
1.
wrong; not correct or true :
A whale is a fish. True or false?
Predictions of an early improvement in the housing market proved false.
She gave false information to the insurance company.
He used a false name to get the job.
NOT NATURAL
2.
not natural
SYN artificial :
false teeth / eyelashes
a false beard
➡ note at artificial
NOT GENUINE
3.
not genuine, but made to look real to cheat people :
a false passport
NOT SINCERE
4.
( of people's behaviour ) not real or sincere :
false modesty
She flashed him a false smile of congratulation.
WRONG / MISTAKEN
5.
[ usually before noun ] wrong or mistaken, because it is based on sth that is not true or correct :
a false argument / assumption / belief
to give a false impression of wealth
to lull sb into a false sense of security (= make sb feel safe when they are really in danger)
They didn't want to raise any false hopes , but they believed her husband had escaped capture.
Buying a cheap computer is a false economy (= will not actually save you money) .
NOT FAITHFUL
6.
( literary ) ( of people ) not faithful :
a false lover
► false·ly adverb :
to be falsely accused of sth
She smiled falsely at his joke.
•
IDIOMS
- by / under / on false pretences
—more at ring (II) verb
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English fals fraud, deceit , from Latin falsum fraud, neuter past participle of fallere deceive; reinforced or re-formed in Middle English from Old French fals , faus false.