Untrue means false or not matching the facts. When something is untrue, it contradicts reality, like saying “the sun revolves around the Earth” or “George Washington was the second president.” These statements are untrue because they don't align with what actually happened or how things actually work.

An untrue statement might be an innocent mistake, like when you remember a fact wrong on a quiz. But untrue things can also be deliberate lies, told to mislead or deceive. If someone spreads an untrue rumor about a classmate, they're sharing information they either know is false or haven't bothered to verify.

The word can also describe people who betray trust or loyalty. Someone untrue to their friends might share secrets they promised to keep, or abandon them when support is needed most. A knight untrue to his oath would break the promises he swore to uphold.

You might hear someone say “that's simply not true” when correcting misinformation, or describe a wobbly table leg as not sitting true, meaning it's off-center or misaligned. Whether describing facts, stories, or character, untrue marks the difference between what is and what only seems to be.