manifestly false

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "manifestly false" is acceptable and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a statement or claim that is blatantly untrue or easily disprovable. Example: The politician's promise to lower taxes for the middle class was manifestly false, as their proposed budget clearly showed an increase in taxes for all income brackets.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Post continues, "What is curious, however, is that the doctrine is transparently and manifestly false".

The New Yorker

This is manifestly false if, say, you're a manicurist who wants to become a neurosurgeon.

The Guardian - Money

Ryanair said on Tuesday that the agency's concerns were "unfounded and invented," and its conclusions "manifestly false".

The New York Times

First, to circulate more widely an incendiary and manifestly false claim, along with the forged imprimatur of an internationally famous investigative journalist one whose poor reputation among conservative bloggers is not necessarily shared more widely.

The Economist

And they expressed concern (as the Christian philosopher Augustine did in the 4th century) that if the Christian church teaches things about the physical world which are manifestly false, then everything else the church teaches might be discredited too.

The Economist

The Supreme Court's Paula Jones verdict could, in theory, be overturned by act of Congress: the court's contention that the suit could go ahead without distracting the president from the tasks of government has proved manifestly false.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

This seems manifestly untrue.

The Guardian - Sport

This is manifestly untrue.

Forbes

That is a manifestly mistaken reading of Buddhist wisdom.

Huffington Post

Manifestly plastic.

The Guardian - Books

Manifestly, he cannot.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reserve it for formal contexts such as legal arguments, scientific rebuttals, or editorial critiques to maintain a high level of professional authority

Common error

Do not apply this phrase to subjective opinions or matters of taste. Using it to describe a viewpoint you simply disagree with, rather than a factual inaccuracy, can make your writing appear biased and dismissive rather than objective

Linguistic Context

This phrase functions as an adverbial-adjective combination where the adverb "manifestly" acts as a high-intensity modifier for the adjective "false". According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used as a predicative adjective (e.g., "the claim was "manifestly false"") to assign a definitive quality of untruthfulness to a noun or proposition.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "manifestly false" is a robust linguistic choice for writers who need to signal that a claim is undeniably and obviously incorrect. According to Ludwig AI data, it is a preferred expression in authoritative publications like The Economist and The New York Times, as well as in scientific literature. It serves as a more intense version of <a href="/s/manifestly+untrue" target="_blank" rel="alternative">manifestly untrue and shares close semantic ground with <a href="/s/patently+false" target="_blank" rel="alternative">patently false. Its effectiveness lies in its ability to combine professional detachment with a strong refutation. When using it, ensure that the statement you are describing truly lacks factual merit, as its definitive tone leaves little room for nuance or subjective interpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

demonstrably false

Suggests that evidence exists to prove the claim is wrong

patently false

Often used in legal contexts to mean something is obviously untrue

manifestly untrue

Uses a slightly less harsh term than false but retains the same emphasis

plainly false

Focuses on the simple, clear obviousness of the error

factually incorrect

A more neutral, clinical way to describe a lack of accuracy

blatantly untrue

Carries a stronger tone of moral judgment or shock

objectively false

Implies the falsehood is based on universal facts rather than interpretation

clearly erroneous

A technical term often used in judicial reviews and legal findings

entirely baseless

Suggests the claim has no foundation or evidence at all

erroneous claim

Shifts the focus from the state of the claim to the claim itself

FAQs

How to use "manifestly false" in a sentence?

It is typically used to describe claims or assumptions that are blatantly incorrect, for example: "The defendant's version of events was shown to be <a href="/s/demonstrably+false" target="_blank" rel="alternative">demonstrably false after the security footage was reviewed".

What can I say instead of "manifestly false"?

Depending on the tone you want, you can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/patently+false" target="_blank" rel="alternative">patently false", "<a href="/s/manifestly+untrue" target="_blank" rel="alternative">manifestly untrue", or "<a href="/s/factually+incorrect" target="_blank" rel="alternative">factually incorrect".

What is the difference between "manifestly false" and "demonstrably false"?

While both indicate a statement is wrong, "<a href="/s/demonstrably+false" target="_blank" rel="alternative">demonstrably false" specifically implies that the proof of the error is available and can be shown, whereas "manifestly false" emphasizes that the error is obvious to the eye or mind.

Is "manifestly false" considered formal English?

Yes, it is a formal and professional expression. If you need a more neutral or plain alternative, you might use "<a href="/s/plainly+untrue" target="_blank" rel="alternative">plainly untrue" or simply "incorrect".