EnglishMain Dictionary
false
Universal Words
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; artificial:
false teeth / eyelashes * a false beard
not genuine
3 not genuine, but made to look real to deceive people:
a false passport * a suitcase with a false bottom
not sincere
4 (of people's behaviour) not real or sincere:
false modesty * She flashed him a false smile of congratulation.
wrong / mistaken
5 [usuallybeforenoun] 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
falsely adverb:
to be falsely accused of sth * She smiled falsely at his joke.
IDIOMS
by / under / on false pretences by pretending to be sth that you are not, in order to gain some advantage for yourself:
She was accused of obtaining money under false pretences.
moreatRINGv.
