[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/untruth/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [U](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/u/) / untruth

# untruth

noun (an untruth, untruths)

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

## Everyday

1. (formal, euphemism) An untruth is a lie, a statement that is not true. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/untruth/#m1)
2. Untruth (uncountable) is the state of not being true. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/untruth/#m2)

### In the lessons

A polite or formal word for a lie, used in formal speech, news, school and stories when someone does not want to say «lie» bluntly. In safety and media lessons, spotting untruths online matters. Plain word: lie, fib (informal, small lie).

### Examples

- I'm afraid that is an untruth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/untruth/#x1)
- The newspaper printed an untruth about the singer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/untruth/#x2)
- Telling untruths can hurt friendships. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/untruth/#x3)
- The fox told the hen an untruth to trick her. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/untruth/#x4)
- It was a small untruth, but it got him in trouble. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/untruth/#x5)

### Note

Use «an untruth» (vowel sound). It is a softer, more formal word than «lie» — a euphemism. Plural: untruths. Opposite: truth.

## On Mova

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