Liar vs. Lier – What’s the Gist?
Homophones sound the same but have different meanings and different spellings. This condition is found in the word pairing of liar \līər\ and lier \līər\.
- Liar is a noun.
- Lier is a noun.
As you can see, the pair also functions as the same part of speech.
How to Use Liar in a Sentence
Liar definition: The noun liar means a person who tells lies, or one who has a reputation as a liar.
For example:
- After misdirecting her mother on her whereabouts, the daughter felt like a liar. (Noun)
- The boy was known to be a liar from childhood. (Noun)
- His father’s admonition was to never trust a liar. (Noun)
By the way, a liar tells lies. The three principal parts for the word lie (meaning to tell an untruth) is lie (present), lied (past), and have lied (past participle). The progressive form is the word lying.
How to Use Lier in a Sentence
Lier definition: On the other hand, the noun lier means one that lies (as in wait or in ambush).
For example:
- The high school bully became a lier when looking for victims. (Noun)
Most dictionaries do not list lier as a word, so it’s likely you will encounter a squiggly red line under it in your word processor. Lier is a common misspelling for the word liar, but some dictionaries list it as its own word.
Outside Examples of Liar vs. Lier
- Brickman said Ms. Garrison believes that Mr. Bloomberg called her a liar when he denied making the “kill it” comments. Mr. Brickman said his client would “respond in her own way” now that she is released from the NDA. –The Wall Street Journal
- In recent months, Mr. Conway, 56, a constitutional lawyer by trade and Trump opponent by conversion, has become more embittered, and more public. During the presidential impeachment, he took to CNN and Twitter as a commentator, calling Mr. Trump a “criminal,” “pathological liar” and “Idiot-in-Chief.” –The New York Times
Interestingly enough, the term lier could not be found in any outside examples unless it was a misspelling for the word liar.
Phrases That Use Liar and Lier
There are several phrases that use the word liar but none for the word lier:
Liar, liar pants on fire: Known as being a schoolyard chant, the person telling the supposed untruth is labeled and ridiculed.
- When the boy shared the story, the unbelieving crowd of peers started chanting, “Liar, liar pants on fire! Liar, liar pants on fire!”
Bald-faced lie: To lie convincingly without any hints of the untruth.
- After the mother asked for the report card, the boy looked in her eyes sincerely and told her a bald-faced lie about not getting it.
Pathological liar: Someone who lies compulsively.
- She knew that he was a pathological liar based on past experiences but was still dating him against her better judgment.
How to Remember These Words
There is an actual word spelled lier, meaning to lie in wait. However, most often lier is a common misspelling of the word liar.
A handy mnemonic device is to look at the letter a in liar. It corresponds to the a in angry. Most people get angry when someone tells them a lie.
For example:
- The teacher did not want to think of her student as a liar, but after the truth came out, she became angry for being duped.
Quiz: Liar or Lier
- He didn’t use to be a _______.
- The _______ told a bold-faced lie.
- He denied being called a _______.
- She was accused of becoming a _______.
Article Summary
Is liar or lier correct? The confusion lies with the misspelling of the word lier. Most people know to add an –er suffix to a verb to get a noun. The word liar is an exception to that rule.
- Liar functions as a noun, reflecting a person who tells untruths.
- Lier has the denotation of a noun, meaning to lie in ambush.
Quiz Answers
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