What does untruth mean?
An untruth is a statement or assertion that is false, especially one told to deceive or to create a false impression. The word is related to lie but is somewhat more formal and literary, and it can refer to a false statement whether or not deliberate deception is clearly established. Untruth can be used for spoken or written assertions, including claims made in testimony, political statements, official accounts, and personal relationships. The plural untruths is used when referring to separate false statements, while the uncountable form can describe the condition of being untruthful or the practice of making false claims. Although the word often carries a moral judgment, it is not limited to deliberate lies: an inaccurate assertion may still be described as an untruth in context. Related forms include untruthful, untruthfully, and untruthfulness. In ordinary conversation, lie is usually more frequent and more direct, while untruth can sound more formal, literary, or evaluative.
nounA statement or assertion that is not true; a falsehood. The term often suggests dishonesty or deliberate deception, although it can also refer more broadly to an inaccurate statement.
- A statement or assertion that is false or not true.
- The condition or quality of being false or untruthful.
"The witness admitted that he had been told an untruth."
"The novel explores how a single untruth can alter an entire family."
"His answer was not an opinion but an untruth presented as fact."
"The contradiction revealed an untruth in the official account."
Used when referring to separate false statements; the singular form is also used in abstract or uncountable senses.
"The memoir recounts the untruths told during the inquiry."
An untruth is the statement; a lie is the intention behind it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does untruth come from?
Untruth is an English formation combining the prefix un-, meaning “not,” with truth. The word belongs to the same semantic family as true, truly, and trust, all of which reflect a Germanic and ultimately Indo-European sense connected with faithfulness or being faithful. The prefix un- gives the basic word its directly understandable meaning: not truth. Its wording makes the contrast with truth especially transparent, and the noun developed a sense encompassing both an individual false statement and, less commonly, falseness as a condition.
Related word forms
How untruth is actually used
Untruth is a formal or literary alternative to lie, but it can be slightly less direct in its suggestion of intentional deception. It may be countable or uncountable, and it is especially common in discussion of deception, testimony, politics, and moral conduct.
Easily confused with untruth
An untruth is a false statement, whereas a lie is generally understood to be a false statement told deliberately, typically with the intention to deceive.