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# falsehood

noun (a falsehood, falsehoods; falsehood — uncountable)

«falsehood» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) A lie; something said that is not true. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/falsehood/#m1)
2. The state of being untrue: the truth or falsehood of a claim. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/falsehood/#m2)

### In the lessons

In formal writing and old stories «falsehood» is a polite or stiff word for a lie; in lessons on truth and tricks children learn to tell truth from falsehood. Phrases: «tell a falsehood», «truth and falsehood», «spread falsehoods».

### Examples

- He was punished for telling a falsehood. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/falsehood/#x1)
- The website was full of falsehoods. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/falsehood/#x2)
- We must learn to tell truth from falsehood. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/falsehood/#x3)
- Her story was a mix of truth and falsehood. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/falsehood/#x4)
- The judge asked the witness not to say any falsehood. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/falsehood/#x5)
- Spreading falsehoods about people is unkind. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/falsehood/#x6)
- Still he scorned to tell a falsehood. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/falsehood/#x7)

### Note

Formal; in everyday speech say «lie». Opposite: truth. Related: false, falsify.

## In Jewish tradition

In these texts it often means lying and also idolatry or false worship, anything that is not true to God.

**Interpretation.** Jewish tradition values truth very highly and sees falsehood as a great sin. The tradition says truth is God's seal.

### Examples

- I hate and abhor falsehood; Thy law do I love. (Writings PSA.119.163, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/falsehood/#x1)
- Are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood, (Prophets ISA.57.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/falsehood/#x2)
- Thou lovest evil more than good; falsehood rather than speaking righteousness. (Writings PSA.52.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/falsehood/#x3)

### Note

Formal; in everyday speech say «lie». Opposite: truth. Related: false, falsify.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «falsehood» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/falsehood/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«falsehood» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/falsehood.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «falsehood» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/falsehood/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«falsehood» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/falsehood.html) on Mova free.