PoliticsJuly 16, 2026

falsehood

/ˈfɔːls.hʊd/

Definition

An untrue statement or a claim that is deliberately designed to mislead or deceive.

Etymology

Derived from the Middle English 'falsehod,' combining 'false' (from Latin 'falsus') and the Old English suffix '-hād' (meaning state or condition). It evolved to describe the specific quality or state of being untrue.

In the news

Senator Mark Warner used the term to describe the President's claims regarding election interference, suggesting they were intended to wrongly shake public trust in the U.S. voting system.

Trump’s Presidential Address: Accuses China, ‘Deep State’ of Election Interference

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Newsweek

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