false

[[t]fɔls[/t]]

adj. fals•er, fals•est, adv.

1) not true or correct; erroneous; wrong:

a false statement[/ex]

2) uttering or declaring what is untrue; lying:

a false witness[/ex]

3) not faithful or loyal; treacherous; hypocritical:

a false friend[/ex]

4) tending to deceive or mislead; deceptive:

a false impression[/ex]

5) not genuine; counterfeit

6) based on mistaken, erroneous, or inconsistent impressions, ideas, or facts:

false pride[/ex]

7) used as a substitute or supplement, esp. temporarily:

false supports for a bridge[/ex]

8) bio Biol. having a superficial resemblance to something that properly bears the name:

the false acacia[/ex]

9) not properly, accurately, or honestly made, done, or adjusted:

a false balance[/ex]

10) inaccurate in pitch, as a musical note

11) dishonestly; faithlessly; treacherously

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- play someone false

Etymology: bef. 1000; ME, OE fals < L falsus, ptp. of fallere to deceive false′ly, adv. false′ness, n. syn: false, sham, counterfeit agree in referring to something that is not genuine. false is used mainly of imitations of concrete objects; it sometimes implies an intent to deceive: false teeth; false hair. sham is rarely used of concrete objects and usu. has the suggestion of intent to deceive: sham title; sham tears. counterfeit always has the implication of cheating; it is used particularly of spurious imitation of coins and paper money.