white lie
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white lie
noun white lies · little white lie
-
A deliberately untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result; especially, one which is judged to be better than an overhonest alternative, as for example to remain polite in a superficial social exchange, or to pick one's battles.
The prevarication and white lies which a mind that keeps itself ambitiously pure is as uneasy under as a great artist under the false touches that no eye detects but his own, are worn as lightly as mere trimmings when once the actions have become a lie.
Similar: fib
Translations
Every language
noun deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
| Español | mentirilla, mentirijilla, mentira piadosa |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 하얀 거짓말 hayan geojinmal, 선의의 거짓말 seonui-ui geojinmal |
| 日本語 | 悪意のない嘘 akui no nai uso, 罪のない嘘 tsumi no nai uso |
| 中文 | 善意的謊言 /善意的谎言 shànyì de huǎngyán, 白色謊言 /白色谎言 báisè huǎngyán |
| Português | mentira branca, mentirinha |
| Français | mensonge officieux, pieux mensonge |
| Deutsch | soziale Lüge, Notlüge |
| Italiano | bugia bianca, bugia pietosa, bugia a fin di bene |
| Русский | неви́нная ложь nevínnaja ložʹ |
Talk about this word "white lie." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/white%20lie. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. white lie. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/white%20lie "white lie." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/white%20lie.
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@misc{white_lie_2026,
title = {white lie},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/white%20lie},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
