untruth
noun /ˌʌnˈtruːθ/
/ˌʌnˈtruːθ/
(plural untruths
/ˌʌnˈtruːðz/, /ˌʌnˈtruːθs/
/ˌʌnˈtruːðz/, /ˌʌnˈtruːθs/
)- [countable] (formal) a lie. People often say ‘untruth’ to avoid saying ‘lie’.Extra Examplescompare truth
- Her account of what had happened was a patent untruth.
- It's not like you to tell an untruth!
- The paper was fined for printing untruths about the affair.
- [uncountable] the state of being false
Word OriginOld English untrēowth ‘unfaithfulness’ (see un-, truth).