What does untrue mean?
Untrue is an adjective meaning false, incorrect, or not in accord with accepted fact. It is commonly used to describe statements, claims, allegations, accusations, and reports, as in “the accusation was untrue.” The word is generally neutral in tone, though it can sound firm or accusatory when it is used to reject someone’s claims. In addition to its main meaning, untrue can describe a person as disloyal or unfaithful, especially in literary expressions such as “untrue to oneself.” Its vocabulary is straightforward: it combines the prefix un-, meaning “not,” with true, meaning “correct” or “faithful.” This formation reflects a broader pattern in English, in which a negated adjective is made by adding un- to another adjective. Because untrue can express both factual falsity and moral disloyalty, careful context helps distinguish its usual modern sense from its more literary secondary sense.
adjectiveNot true or accurate; false. It can also mean unfaithful or disloyal when used in the sense of being untrue to someone or something.
- Not true or accurate; false.
- Not faithful or loyal, especially in the expression untrue to someone or something.
"The minister denied that the report contained any untrue claims."
"The newspaper published a correction after several of its claims proved untrue."
"She felt untrue to herself after agreeing to a decision she did not support."
Untrue is wonderfully direct: it puts the old negating prefix un- in front of true to mean “false.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does untrue come from?
Untrue was formed in English by combining the old negating prefix un- with true. The prefix derives from Old English and was already widely used to create negative adjectives and nouns, while true is an inherited English adjective with Germanic roots. The resulting word became established in early modern English and follows the same productive pattern seen in words such as unfair and unusual.
Related word forms
How untrue is actually used
Untrue is neutral in tone and is especially common in formal reporting, public statements, and discussion of claims or allegations. It is often more pointed than inaccurate, because it directly challenges the truth of something.
Easily confused with untrue
Untrue is an adjective describing something as false or inaccurate, whereas untruth is a noun meaning a lie or falsehood.
Untrue describes a statement or claim as false, while untruthful describes a person as habitually dishonest or inclined to lie.