Lie vs. Mistruth — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 19, 2024
Lie involves intentional deception with false statements, whereas mistruth may not be deliberate, possibly stemming from misinformation.
Difference Between Lie and Mistruth
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
A lie is a statement made by someone who knows it is false, intending to deceive. Mistruth, on the other hand, can occur when someone inaccurately reports facts, not necessarily with the intent to deceive.
Lies are often delivered with the clear motive of misleading others for personal gain or to avoid negative consequences, whereas mistruths might be spread due to misunderstanding or lack of knowledge without any malicious intent.
In legal and ethical contexts, lies are considered more severe because they involve conscious choices to mislead. Mistruths may be treated more leniently, especially if they result from genuine errors.
The repercussions of telling a lie can be significant, leading to loss of trust, credibility, and even legal penalties. In contrast, mistruths, especially those not intended to deceive, often lead to less severe consequences.
Understanding the distinction between a lie and a mistruth is crucial in fields like journalism and academia, where accuracy and intent significantly impact credibility and ethical standing.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
A false statement made with intent to deceive
An incorrect statement not necessarily made with intent to deceive
Intent
Always intentional
May not be intentional
Ethical Implication
Generally considered unethical
May not be unethical depending on intent
Consequences
Can lead to severe trust and legal issues
Generally less severe consequences
Common Contexts
Fraud, manipulation
Miscommunication, errors
Compare with Definitions
Lie
A false statement made deliberately.
He lied about his location to avoid the meeting.
Mistruth
Incorrect or untrue information shared without harmful intent.
The mistruth spread quickly across the internet.
Lie
Mislead or deceive with words.
The advertisement lied about the benefits of the product.
Mistruth
A statement that is false but not made to deceive.
Due to a misunderstanding, he spoke a mistruth about the event’s date.
Lie
To say something that one knows is not true.
She lied under oath during the trial.
Mistruth
False information resulting from confusion or misinformation.
The mistruth in the report was due to outdated sources.
Lie
An intentional untruth; a falsehood.
His excuse turned out to be a complete lie.
Mistruth
An error in saying or believing something that is not true.
His mistruth about the stats was unintentional.
Lie
To create a false or misleading impression.
The silence might lie about the real feelings they had.
Mistruth
A mistake in facts or understanding.
Her article contained several mistruths due to poor research.
Lie
A lie is an assertion that is believed to be false, typically used with the purpose of deceiving someone. The practice of communicating lies is called lying.
Mistruth
Untruth; falsehood.
Lie
(of a person or animal) be in or assume a horizontal or resting position on a supporting surface
I had to lie down because I was groggy
The body lay face downwards on the grass
Lily lay back on the pillows and watched him
Mistruth
A statement which, while technically true, is dishonestly misleading. en
Lie
Be, remain, or be kept in a specified state
Putting homeless families into private houses that would otherwise lie empty
The abbey lies in ruins today
Lie
(of a place) be situated in a specified position or direction
Kexby lies about five miles due east of York
Lie
(of an action, charge, or claim) be admissible or sustainable
An action for restitution would lie for money paid in breach of the law
Lie
Tell a lie or lies
‘I am sixty-five,’ she lied
Why had Ashenden lied about his visit to London?
Lie
The way, direction, or position in which something lies
He was familiarizing himself with the lie of the streets
Lie
An intentionally false statement
The whole thing is a pack of lies
They hint rather than tell outright lies
Lie
To be or place oneself at rest in a flat, horizontal, or recumbent position; recline
He lay under a tree to sleep.
Lie
To be placed on or supported by a surface that is usually horizontal
Dirty dishes lay on the table. See Usage Note at lay1.
Lie
To be or remain in a specified condition
The dust has lain undisturbed for years. He lay sick in bed.
Lie
To exist; reside
Our sympathies lie with the plaintiff.
Lie
To consist or have as a basis. Often used with in
The strength of his performance lies in his training.
Lie
To occupy a position or place
The lake lies beyond this hill.
Lie
To extend
Our land lies between these trees and the river.
Lie
To be buried in a specified place.
Lie
(Law) To be admissible or maintainable.
Lie
(Archaic) To stay for a night or short while.
Lie
To present false information with the intention of deceiving.
Lie
To convey a false image or impression
Appearances often lie.
Lie
To say or write as a lie.
Lie
The manner or position in which something is situated.
Lie
A haunt or hiding place of an animal.
Lie
(Sports) The position of a golf ball that has come to a stop.
Lie
A false statement deliberately presented as being true; a falsehood.
Lie
Something meant to deceive or mistakenly accepted as true
Learned his parents had been swindlers and felt his whole childhood had been a lie.
Lie
(intransitive) To rest in a horizontal position on a surface.
The book lies on the table;
The snow lies on the roof;
He lies in his coffin
Lie
(intransitive) To be placed or situated.
Lie
To abide; to remain for a longer or shorter time; to be in a certain state or condition.
To lie waste; to lie fallow; to lie open; to lie hidden; to lie grieving; to lie under one's displeasure; to lie at the mercy of the waves
The paper does not lie smooth on the wall.
Lie
Used with in: to be or exist; to belong or pertain; to have an abiding place; to consist.
Lie
Used with on/upon: to be incumbent (on); to be the responsibility of a person.
Lie
(archaic) To lodge; to sleep.
Lie
To be still or quiet, like one lying down to rest.
Lie
(legal) To be sustainable; to be capable of being maintained.
Lie
(intransitive) To give false information intentionally with intent to deceive.
When Pinocchio lies, his nose grows.
If you are found to have lied in court, you could face a penalty.
While a principle-based approach might claim that lying is always morally wrong, the casuist would argue that, depending upon the details of the case, lying might or might not be illegal or unethical. The casuist might conclude that a person is wrong to lie in legal testimony under oath, but might argue that lying actually is the best moral choice if the lie saves a life.
Lie
(intransitive) To convey a false image or impression.
Photographs often lie.
Lie
To be mistaken or unintentionally spread false information.
Sorry, I haven't seen your keys anywhere...wait, I lied! They're right there on the coffee table.
Lie
(golf) The terrain and conditions surrounding the ball before it is struck.
Lie
(disc golf) The terrain and conditions surrounding the disc before it is thrown.
Lie
(medicine) The position of a fetus in the womb.
Lie
A manner of lying; relative position.
Lie
An animal's lair.
Lie
An intentionally false statement; an intentional falsehood.
I knew he was telling a lie by his facial expression.
Lie
A statement intended to deceive, even if literally true.
Lie
(by extension) Anything that misleads or disappoints.
Lie
See Lye.
Lie
A falsehood uttered or acted for the purpose of deception; an intentional violation of truth; an untruth spoken with the intention to deceive.
The proper notion of a lie is an endeavoring to deceive another by signifying that to him as true, which we ourselves think not to be so.
It is willful deceit that makes a lie. A man may act a lie, as by pointing his finger in a wrong direction when a traveler inquires of him his road.
Lie
A fiction; a fable; an untruth.
Lie
Anything which misleads or disappoints.
Wishing this lie of life was o'er.
Lie
The position or way in which anything lies; the lay, as of land or country.
He surveyed with his own eyes . . . the lie of the country on the side towards Thrace.
Lie
To utter falsehood with an intention to deceive; to say or do that which is intended to deceive another, when he a right to know the truth, or when morality requires a just representation.
Lie
To rest extended on the ground, a bed, or any support; to be, or to put one's self, in an horizontal position, or nearly so; to be prostate; to be stretched out; - often with down, when predicated of living creatures; as, the book lies on the table; the snow lies on the roof; he lies in his coffin.
The watchful traveler . . . Lay down again, and closed his weary eyes.
Lie
To be situated; to occupy a certain place; as, Ireland lies west of England; the meadows lie along the river; the ship lay in port.
Lie
To abide; to remain for a longer or shorter time; to be in a certain state or condition; as, to lie waste; to lie fallow; to lie open; to lie hid; to lie grieving; to lie under one's displeasure; to lie at the mercy of the waves; the paper does not lie smooth on the wall.
Lie
To be or exist; to belong or pertain; to have an abiding place; to consist; - with in.
Envy lies between beings equal in nature, though unequal in circumstances.
He that thinks that diversion may not lie in hard labor, forgets the early rising and hard riding of huntsmen.
Lie
To lodge; to sleep.
Whiles I was now trifling at home, I saw London, . . . where I lay one night only.
Mr. Quinion lay at our house that night.
Lie
To be still or quiet, like one lying down to rest.
The wind is loud and will not lie.
Lie
To be sustainable; to be capable of being maintained.
What he gets more of her than sharp words, let it lie on my head.
Lie
A statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
Lie
Norwegian diplomat who was the first Secretary General of the United Nations (1896-1968)
Lie
Position or manner in which something is situated
Lie
Be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
Lie
Be lying, be prostrate; be in a horizontal position;
The sick man lay in bed all day
The books are lying on the shelf
We had to stand for the entire performance!
Lie
Originate (in);
The problems dwell in the social injustices in this country
Lie
Be and remain in a particular state or condition;
Lie dormant
Lie
Tell an untruth; pretend with intent to deceive;
Don't lie to your parents
She lied when she told me she was only 29
Lie
Have a place in relation to something else;
The fate of Bosnia lies in the hands of the West
The responsibility rests with the Allies
Lie
Assume a reclining position;
Lie down on the bed until you feel better
Common Curiosities
What are the consequences of spreading mistruths?
Consequences can include misunderstandings and spread of misinformation, though usually less severe than those for lies.
What defines a lie?
A lie is defined as a false statement made with the deliberate intention of deceiving someone.
How can one differentiate between a lie and a mistruth?
The key difference lies in the intent behind the statement; lies are intentional, while mistruths may not be.
Can a mistruth ever be considered a lie?
If a mistruth is told with the intent to deceive, it can be considered a lie; otherwise, it remains a mistruth.
Are all lies harmful?
Most lies have the potential to be harmful as they are intended to deceive, though the impact can vary.
Can mistruths be corrected?
Mistruths can often be corrected through clarification and provision of correct information.
Do mistruths always stem from misinformation?
Mistruths often stem from misinformation, misunderstanding, or erroneous beliefs.
What is the impact of lies in relationships?
Lies can severely damage trust and credibility in relationships.
How do mistruths affect public discourse?
Mistruths can distort public discourse and lead to poorly informed decisions or misconceptions.
Are lies illegal?
Certain lies, especially those that cause harm or relate to fraud, can be illegal.
Is lying always unethical?
Lying is generally considered unethical, but exceptions can exist based on context and motivation.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Cappuccino vs. Latte
Next Comparison
Eatable vs. EdibleAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
