Falsified
/ˈfɔːlsɪfaɪd/
verbB2past tense, past participle
Definition
Falsified means to change facts, documents, or information so they are not true. Usually, this is done to cheat, lie, or deceive others. It can refer to changing numbers, signatures, or any data to hide the real truth.
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See It in Action
To change information or documents to be false
- •The company falsified the financial reports to hide losses.
- •He falsified his signature on the contract.
- •The scientist was accused of falsifying data in the experiment.
To lie or cheat by changing facts
- •The witness falsified his statement to protect his friend.
- •Some people falsify their resumes to get better jobs.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "falsified" like "changed," but the change is dishonest or meant to trick someone.
- ✓Picture someone erasing parts of a paper and writing new, wrong information instead.
- ✓It's the feeling when you find out something you trusted was actually a lie or fake.
- ✓Sounds like "FALSE-ify-ed" → imagine making something FALSE by adding "ify" (to make) and "ed" (past action).
- ✓Think of a story where a person changes a test score to get a better grade, which is cheating.
- ✓NOT like "corrected" (fixing mistakes to be true), "falsified" means making something wrong on purpose.
- ✓NOT like "changed" in a good way; "falsified" has a bad meaning because it is about lying.
- ✓NOT like "fake" (something made completely new to look real), "falsified" often means changing something real to be untrue.
Try Other Words
- •Forge: to make a false copy, especially of a signature or document (Use when talking about illegal copying)
- •Fabricate: to invent false information or stories (Use when the lie is made up from nothing)
- •Alter: to change something (Use when the change is neutral or not necessarily dishonest)
- •Manipulate: to control or change something cleverly, often dishonestly (Use when the change is done with skill to deceive)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "false" (not true) + suffix "-ify" (to make) + "-ed" (past tense)
- •Etymology: From Latin "falsus" meaning false + "-ify" from Latin "-ificare" meaning to make or do
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s to describe making something false or untrue
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in legal, business, and scientific contexts to describe dishonest changes
Reflect & Connect
•Why do people falsify documents or information, and what problems can this cause?
•How can you tell if something has been falsified in everyday life or work?
Fill in the blanks
1.The accountant falsified the records to ___ the company's true financial state.
2.When evidence is falsified, it can cause ___ in legal cases.
3.Falsified documents are often ___ by experts to find the truth.
4.Unlike honest mistakes, falsified information is changed ___ to deceive others.
5.People who falsify their qualifications usually want to ___ better jobs.
6.The report was falsified ___ to hide the real results of the experiment.
7.If you find out your identity has been falsified, you should ___ the authorities immediately.