デマdema

1. nounfalse rumor (rumour); groundless rumor; misinformation
   彼かれはデマをでっち上あげた。↗

   He invented a false rumor.

• Synonym飛語ひごWrittenWritten/formal word for baseless gossip, mostly seen in 「流言飛語」; 「デマ」 by contrast carries the nuance of deliberate spreading.
• Synonym流言りゅうげんWrittenWritten/formal word for groundless rumors, as in 「流言が広がる」; close to 「デマ」 but does not stress intentional spreading.
• Related風評ふうひょうWrittenWritten/formal word for negative public reputation or rumors, as in 「風評被害」; not necessarily a deliberately fabricated falsehood like 「デマ」.
• Related取りざたとりざたNeutralTalk or rumor circulating in society; not necessarily false, whereas 「デマ」 is false information by definition.
• Related噂話うわさばなしNeutralEveryday word for gossip, i.e. chat about other people; common in daily speech, while 「デマ」 centers on the falseness of the information.
• Related風聞ふうぶんWrittenWritten/formal word for hearsay, as in 「風聞によれば」; it implies nothing about whether the information is true or false.
• Related風説ふうせつWrittenWritten/formal word for claims circulating among the public; appears in the legal term 「風説の流布」; not limited to false information.
• Related浮き名うきなWrittenWritten/formal word for a romantic scandal, as in 「浮き名を流す」; centers on love-affair rumors, which are not necessarily false.
• Antonym真実しんじつNeutralAntonym: the truth, as in 「真実を明らかにする」; the opposite of the false rumors 「デマ」 refers to.
• Antonym事実じじつNeutralAntonym: what actually happened, as in 「事実無根」; stands in contrast to the misinformation of 「デマ」.

Use 「デマ」 for false or groundless information, sometimes spread on purpose, as in 「デマを流す」; plain rumors are 「噂」. In writing, 「流言」 is groundless rumor, 「風評」 negative rumor (「風評被害」), 「風聞」 hearsay, 「風説」 circulating claims, and 「飛語」 appears in 「流言飛語」. 「取りざた」 and 「噂話」 are everyday gossip that need not be false; 「浮き名」 is a love-affair scandal. The opposites are 「事実」 and 「真実」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 政治的せいじてきな意図いとをもって流ながす情報じょうほう。デマゴギー。
2. 根拠こんきょのない噂うわさ。流言りゅうげん。