false cognate
false cognate · false cognates
A word that appears to be cognate to another given word, but in fact is notA word that appears to be cognate (etymologically related) to another given word, but in fact is not.
Meaning
2 sensesA word that appears to be cognate (etymologically related) to another given word, but in fact is not.
(proscribed)A false friend: a word that appears to have the same meaning as another given word, but in fact does not (without regard to whether or not the two terms are cognate).
Forms
plural: false cognates| Singular | false cognate |
|---|---|
| Plural | false cognates |
regular