fausser

Fausser is a French verb meaning to make something false or to render it unreliable. It is used to describe acts of falsifying or distorting information, documents, or measurements, as well as adulterating products. The sense can extend to misleading conclusions or corrupting the outcome of an assessment. In idiomatic use, it can appear in phrases such as fausser compagnie à quelqu’un, meaning to part company abruptly.

Etymology and form: The verb fausser is built from the adjective faux (false) with the regular -er verb ending. It is linked to the Latin falsus meaning false and is related to other French terms such as falsifier and falsification. The past participle is faussé, used in compounds like pièce faussée (a counterfeit coin) or données faussées (falsified data).

Usage and scope: Fausser is transitive and requires a direct object. Common constructions include fausser des chiffres, fausser des résultats, or fausser une pièce (to counterfeit a coin). In legal, administrative, or journalistic contexts, it denotes deliberate manipulation of data, documents, or evidence. The term carries a negative connotation and is often contrasted with legitimate correction or verification.

Related terms and agents: A person who falsifies is called a faussaire, sometimes faussier, a term especially used for counterfeiters of money or documents. The verb is closely related to the noun falsification and to phrases describing counterfeit or misleading work (fausse monnaie, documents falsifiés). In everyday language, alternatives include falsifier or tromper, depending on context and degree of formality.

In contemporary French, fausser remains a standard verb across registers, used to indicate intentional deviation from truth, accuracy, or integrity in data, acts, or objects.