► lie something that you say or write that you know is untrue: Tina got in trouble for telling lies. Some of the other kids were spreading lies about me at school (=telling lots of people lies about me).
► white lie a small lie that you tell someone, usually to avoid hurting his or her feelings: I told her the dress looked wonderful, which was a white lie.
► fib informal a lie, especially about something that is not very important: You’re not telling me a fib, are you?
► falsehood formal falsehood means the same as lie but sounds more formal or literary: The book is full of falsehoods and rumors even though the author claims everything is true.
► fabrication formal a story, piece of information, etc. that someone makes up in order to deceive people: Her story was a complete fabrication.
► slander formal the crime of saying something that is bad and not true about someone, which could make people have a bad opinion of that person: If she continues to spread these lies about me, I will take her to court for slander.
► libel formal the crime of writing or printing things about someone that are not true: The actor will sue you for libel if you write that he took drugs and you have no proof.
► perjury formal the crime of telling a lie in a court of law when you have promised to tell the truth: The witness has been charged with perjury because she knowingly lied to the jury.