False statement

False statement

A false statement is a statement that can be either willfully or unknowingly untrue. Though "fallacy" is often used as a synonym for "false statement" this is not what is meant by "fallacy" in logic or most formal contexts.

A false statement need not be a lie. A lie is a statement that is known to be untrue and is used to mislead. A false statement is a statement that is untrue but not necessarily told to mislead, as a statement given by someone who does not know it is untrue.

Examples of false statements

*A Misleading Statement (Lie): John told his little brother that sea otters aren't mammals, but fish, even though John himself was a marine biologist and knew otherwise. John simply wanted to see his little brother fail his class report, in order to teach him to begin projects early, which help him develop skills necessary to succeed in life
*A Statement Made Out Of Ignorance: James, John's brother, stated in his class report that sea otters were fish. James got an F after his teacher pointed out why that statement was false. James did not know that sea otters were in fact mammals because he heard that sea otters were fish from his older brother John, a marine biologist.

In law

In some jurisdictions, false statement is a crime similar to perjury.

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • false statement — n: a statement that is known or believed by its maker to be incorrect or untrue and is made esp. with intent to deceive or mislead submitted a false statement to obtain the loan; also: the federal crime of concealing a material fact, making a… …   Law dictionary

  • false statement — Statement knowingly false, or made recklessly without honest belief in its truth, and with purpose to mislead or deceive. Third Nat. Bank v. Schatten, C.C.A.Tenn., 81 F.2d 538, 540. An incorrect statement made or acquiesced in with knowledge of… …   Black's law dictionary

  • false statement — Statement knowingly false, or made recklessly without honest belief in its truth, and with purpose to mislead or deceive. Third Nat. Bank v. Schatten, C.C.A.Tenn., 81 F.2d 538, 540. An incorrect statement made or acquiesced in with knowledge of… …   Black's law dictionary

  • false statement — A statement which is false. For most purposes of the law, a statement which is wilfully false. Fougera & Co. v New York, 224 NY 269, 120 NE 642, 1 ALR 1467, 1473. See false representation …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • false — adj 1: not genuine, authentic, or legitimate compare counterfeit 2 a: not true or correct; esp: intentionally or knowingly untrue or incorrect injured by false accusations b: intended to mislead or deceive: decept …   Law dictionary

  • False — False, a. [Compar. {Falser}; superl. {Falsest}.] [L. falsus, p. p. of fallere to deceive; cf. OF. faus, fals, F. faux, and AS. fals fraud. See {Fail}, {Fall}.] 1. Uttering falsehood; unveracious; given to deceit; dishnest; as, a false witness.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • False arch — False False, a. [Compar. {Falser}; superl. {Falsest}.] [L. falsus, p. p. of fallere to deceive; cf. OF. faus, fals, F. faux, and AS. fals fraud. See {Fail}, {Fall}.] 1. Uttering falsehood; unveracious; given to deceit; dishnest; as, a false… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • False attic — False False, a. [Compar. {Falser}; superl. {Falsest}.] [L. falsus, p. p. of fallere to deceive; cf. OF. faus, fals, F. faux, and AS. fals fraud. See {Fail}, {Fall}.] 1. Uttering falsehood; unveracious; given to deceit; dishnest; as, a false… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • False bearing — False False, a. [Compar. {Falser}; superl. {Falsest}.] [L. falsus, p. p. of fallere to deceive; cf. OF. faus, fals, F. faux, and AS. fals fraud. See {Fail}, {Fall}.] 1. Uttering falsehood; unveracious; given to deceit; dishnest; as, a false… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • False cadence — False False, a. [Compar. {Falser}; superl. {Falsest}.] [L. falsus, p. p. of fallere to deceive; cf. OF. faus, fals, F. faux, and AS. fals fraud. See {Fail}, {Fall}.] 1. Uttering falsehood; unveracious; given to deceit; dishnest; as, a false… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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