untruth

untruth — noun

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

1.名詞B2
釋義

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

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • truth

    a statement that is accurate and based on facts

文法句型

tell/utter/spread + an untruth

plural: untruths

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.名詞B2
釋義

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

例句

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.

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • truth

    the quality of being accurate and in line with reality

  • correctness

    freedom from error or fault

文法句型

the untruth of + noun phrase

prove/expose the untruth of something

用法筆記

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

常見錯誤

❌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.