Lier vs. Liar: What’s the Difference?

Lier and liar may look almost the same, but they have different meanings and are not interchangeable.

Let’s make this super clear.

Liar: Someone Who Doesn’t Tell the Truth 🤥

Meaning

“Liar” is a noun that means a person who tells lies — someone who doesn’t tell the truth.

Examples (10 total)

1. He’s such a liar — nothing he says is true.
2. Don’t trust her; she’s a liar.
3. The politician was called a liar during the debate.
4. You’re a liar if you deny it.
5. The movie showed how a small liar became a great manipulator.
6. I hate being called a liar when I’m honest.
7. Everyone knew he was a liar but liked him anyway.
8. She proved that he wasn’t a liar after all.
9. Only a liar would make up such a story.
10. That kid is a terrible liar — you can see it in his face.

🧠 Tip:
If it means someone who lies, it’s liar — with an a.

Lier: Someone Who Lies Down 💤

Meaning

“Lier” (very rare) is a noun meaning a person who lies down or rests in a lying position.
You’ll almost never use it in everyday English — it appears mostly in literary or old-fashioned writing.

Examples (5 total)

1. The patient was a lier on the hospital bed.
2. The lier remained still, gazing at the ceiling.
3. Poets sometimes use “lier in wait” to mean someone hiding.
4. The lier on the ground looked peaceful.
5. In the woods, a lier in ambush waited for prey.

🧠 Tip:
If it means someone lying down, it’s lier — with an e.
But honestly, you’ll almost never need this word.

Quick Comparison Table

How to Remember the Difference

👉 Liar = A person who lies (not honest)
👉 Lier = A person lying down (resting)

💡 Memory Trick:

“Liar” has an A — for “untrue stAtements.”
“Lier” has an E — for “rElaxing.”

Why People Confuse Them

Because both come from the verb lie — but that verb has two meanings:

• Lie (to recline) → lier
• Lie (to tell a falsehood) → liar

Even grammar tools or AI writers sometimes confuse the two — which is why Humanizey helps fix subtle word-choice issues like this automatically.

FAQs

1. Is “lier” a real word?

Yes, but it’s very rare. You’ll almost never use it outside poetry or formal writing.

2. Can I use “lier” instead of “liar”?

No — they have totally different meanings.

3. Which one should I use in everyday writing?

Almost always liar. It’s the common, modern word.

4. Is “lier” used in British English more often?

Not really — even in British English, lier is rare and considered old-fashioned.

Practice: Choose the Correct Word (“Lier” or “Liar”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. Don’t believe him — he’s a ___.
2. The hunter was a ___ in wait behind the trees.
3. She called him a ___ for denying the truth.
4. The ___ lay quietly on the couch.
5. That man is such a terrible ___.
6. The ___ pretended to be asleep.
7. The reporter exposed the politician as a ___.
8. The ___ on the bed didn’t move.
9. No one likes a ___.
10. In the poem, a ___ waits in the shadows.

Answers

1. liar
2. lier
3. liar
4. lier
5. liar
6. lier
7. liar
8. lier
9. liar
10. lier