FALSITY

falsehood, falsity, untruth

(noun) a false statement

falsity, falseness

(noun) the state of being false or untrue; “argument could not determine its truth or falsity”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

falsity (countable and uncountable, plural falsities)

(countable) Something that is false; an untrue assertion.

(uncountable) The characteristic of being untrue.

Usage notes

Instances may be quoted in abundance from old authors to show that the first three words are often strictly synonymous; but the modern tendency has been decidedly in favor of separating them, falsehood standing for the concrete thing, an intentional lie; falseness, for the quality of being guiltily false or treacherous: as, he is justly despised for his falseness to his oath; and falsity, for the quality of being false without blame: as, the falsity of reasoning. — the Century Dictionary, 1911.

Synonyms

• fabrication

• falsehood

• falseness

• fiction

• untruth

• See also falsehood

Antonyms

• truth

• verity

Source: Wiktionary

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Fal"si*ty, n.;pl. Falsities. Etym: [L. falsitas: cf. F. fausseté, OF. also, falsité. See False, a.]

1. The quality of being false; coutrariety or want of conformity to truth. Probability does not make any alteration, either in the truth or falsity of things. South.

2. That which is false; falsehood; a lie; a false assertion. Men often swallow falsities for truths. Sir T. Brown.

Syn.

– Falsehood; lie; deceit.

– Falsity, Falsehood, Lie. Falsity denotes the state or quality of being false. A falsehood is a false declaration designedly made. A lie is a gross, unblushing falsehood. The falsity of a person's assertion may be proved by the evidence of others and thus the charge of falsehood be fastened upon him.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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