untruth

untruth — noun

1. A piece of information that someone gives which is false, especially when they k

1.nounB2
Definition

A piece of information that someone gives which is false, especially when they know it is false — a polite word for a lie.

Example

Karim told an untruth when he said the car was in perfect condition.

collocation: tell an untruth

The newspaper had to apologize for printing several untruths about the former mayor.

plural form: untruths

Common collocations
  • tell an untruth
  • speak an untruth
  • print/utter an untruth
Synonyms
  • lie

    the most direct and common word; carries a stronger accusation of deliberate dishonesty

  • falsehood

    more formal than 'lie'; can refer to either intentional or unintentional inaccuracies

  • fabrication

    emphasizes that something was invented or made up, often elaborately

Antonyms
  • truth

    a statement that is accurate and based on facts

Grammar Patterns

tell/utter/spread + an untruth

plural: untruths

Usage Note

Used as a polite or formal alternative to 'lie', especially in official or diplomatic contexts. Saying 'untruth' softens the accusation and makes it sound less confrontational.

Common Mistakes

He told a untruth.
He told an untruth.
'untruth' begins with a vowel sound, so it takes the article 'an'.

2. The quality of not being based on facts or reality — the condition of being wron

2.nounB2
Definition

The quality of not being based on facts or reality — the condition of being wrong or untrue.

Example

The untruth of the accusation against Mr. Chen was clear to the jury.

uncountable: the untruth of [something]

The journalist proved the untruth of the rumour by finding the original receipts.

Common collocations
  • the untruth of
  • prove the untruth of
  • expose the untruth of
  • demonstrate the untruth of
Synonyms
  • falsity

    a more technical or formal word for the quality of being false, common in logic and philosophy

  • falseness

    straightforward and neutral; less formal than 'untruth' in this sense

Antonyms
  • truth

    the quality of being accurate and in line with reality

  • correctness

    freedom from error or fault

Grammar Patterns

the untruth of + noun phrase

prove/expose the untruth of something

Usage Note

Typically uncountable. Frequently appears in the construction 'the untruth of + [noun phrase]', where it names the falseness inherent in a claim, accusation, or story.

Common Mistakes

The untruths of the statement was obvious.
The untruth of the statement was obvious.
When referring to falseness as a quality (sense 2), 'untruth' is uncountable and should not be pluralized.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to statements that are not true, but they differ in directness and tone. 'Lie' is the most common and carries the strongest accusation of deliberate deception — calling something a lie openly accuses someone of dishonest intent. 'Falsehood' is more formal and can include unintentional errors; it is often used in legal or academic writing where the question of intent is left open. 'Fabrication' goes a step further, emphasizing that the false statement was actively made up or invented, often with elaborate detail. 'Untruth' is the most polite and indirect option, frequently chosen in diplomacy, journalism, or sensitive personal conversations to avoid the confrontational force of 'lie'. For example, a diplomat might say 'the ambassador's remarks contained an untruth' rather than 'the ambassador lied', softening the accusation while still indicating the statement was false.

lie ↗falsehoodfabricationuntruth ↗

Common collocations

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Comes from Old English 'untrēowþ', which was formed by adding the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') to 'trēowþ' (meaning 'truth, good faith, loyalty'). In Old English the word meant 'treachery' or 'breach of faith', but over time its meaning shifted to focus on the falseness of what is said rather than the breaking of a promise.