What is the legal term for false promises?

Asked by: Johan Schmitt  |  Last update: May 5, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (16 votes)

Insincere Promises: The Law of Misrepresented Intent.

What is a false promise in law?

False Promise or Promissory Fraud occurs when one party knowingly promises to do something without intending to do it, and the alleged victim actually and justifiably relies on it, causing harm.

What is another word for making false promises?

Empty promises may also be evasions, lies, sophistry. Among the senses of the latter are "an argument that seems plausible, but is fallacious or misleading, especially one devised deliberately to be so"; "the art of using deceptive speech or writing"; and "cunning or trickery".

Can you sue someone for making false promises?

If the executives of the company lured you to work with promises that they KNEW or clearly should have known were false, then you would have an action for fraudulent inducement. Note that this is a very high standard of proof. But it would give you a right to sue and recover.

What is the legal term for false pretenses?

The crime of False Pretenses is obtaining title and possession of another's property by misrepresenting a fact (knowingly making false representations) with the intent to defraud. The crime of False Pretenses is also known as Theft by False Pretenses or Larceny by False Pretenses.

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33 related questions found

What is the legal term for deceptive?

dishonesty, fraudulent conduct, false statements made knowing them to be untrue, by which the liar intends to deceive a party receiving the statements and expects the party to believe and rely on them.

What is another word for false pretense?

Definitions of false pretence. (law) an offense involving intent to defraud and false representation and obtaining property as a result of that misrepresentation. synonyms: false pretense. infraction, infringement, misdemeanor, misdemeanour, violation.

What is it called when someone makes false promises?

We call this category of falsehoods “promissory misrepresentations” or “insincere. promises.” ( They are also sometimes referred to as “lying promises.”

Are false promises illegal?

California law prohibits employers from making false promises of employment to potential and current employees. The Golden State is committed to protecting employee rights. If an employer makes a false promise to influence the employee improperly, the employer may face criminal penalties.

Are all promises legally enforceable?

The obligation to keep promises is a commonly acknowledged moral duty. Yet not all promises – however solemnly vowed – are enforceable at law.

What is the idiom for fake promises?

"Speak with a forked tongue" means "to tell lies; to make false promises." Example: The minister is speaking with a forked tongue, promising support he will never deliver.

What is the legal term for making a promise?

Promissory Estoppel: In some cases, a promise can be legally binding even if there is no formal contract.

What is a word for false justification?

Unjustified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unjustified.

What is the legal term for broken promise?

Promissory estoppel is a legal doctrine that says parties may be liable for broken promises that result in financial harm. As with other legal issues, promissory estoppel cases are highly specific, meaning that it is worth consulting an attorney before pursuing legal action.

What is the estoppel of a promise?

Within contract law , promissory estoppel refers to the doctrine that a party may recover on the basis of a promise made when the party's reliance on that promise was reasonable , and the party attempting to recover detrimentally relied on the promise.

What is an example of a lying promise?

It is: "Whenever I am in need of money I will borrow money and promise to repay it, although I know I shall never do so." In his statement of M, Kant has emphasized the circumstances under which false promises would be made.

What is a word for false promises?

The illusory promise of a desired outcome that is unlikely to happen. pie in the sky. delusion. daydream. illusion.

Can you sue someone for false promises?

The general rule is that broken promises, by themselves, are not actionable in court. However, there is a little-known exception: promissory estoppel. In the absence of a contract or agreement, which requires benefit to both sides (referred to as consideration), the law is generally unavailable to enforce a promise.

Are illusory promises enforceable?

In contract law, an illusory promise is one that courts will not enforce. This is in contrast with a contract, which is a promise that courts will enforce.

What is a word for not keeping promises?

fail to fulfill a promise or obligation. synonyms: go back on, renege on, renegue on. annul, countermand, lift, overturn, repeal, rescind, reverse, revoke, vacate.

What is an example of a false promise?

Definition: A promise made with no intention of carrying it out. Example: A car salesman promises a customer that they will receive a free oil change with the purchase of a car, but has no intention of actually providing the oil change.

What is it called when you make someone believe something false?

deceive, mislead, delude, beguile mean to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness.

What is a synonym for deceitful intent?

Some common synonyms of deceitful are dishonest, mendacious, and untruthful. While all these words mean "unworthy of trust or belief," deceitful usually implies an intent to mislead and commonly suggests a false appearance or double-dealing.

What is pretense in legal terms?

Pretenses, in legal terms, refer to acts of pretending or making believe. They involve intentionally misrepresenting facts to deceive others.

What is a word for prove false?

verb. prove to be false or incorrect. synonyms: controvert, rebut. confute, disprove.