That's a hard question, seeing as I think you have an example in mind...such as Rahab hiding the Jews then saying she did not have any Jews in her house...
No, its not a trick question, I'm just interested in your interpretation of it. Obviously you think there are qualifications to it - I'd be interested to know what they are?
It's still a sin to lie....but if it is to save lives, as in what Rahab did, it is forgivable. Then there are other kinds of lies. I've caught myself giving the shortest explanation when the truth is a much longer explanation than the questioner would want to know. It's like when people say "fine" when asked "how are you?"
Or I have retold how something happened...then realized later that wasn't exactly how it happened...I left out a detail, got the time or order wrong.
Both the last two examples did not hurt anybody, but it is still a sin against God...and then I need to repent and confess to Jesus.
Now, if someone's character has been misrepresented, I would also have to do all I can to fix it, by letting everyone know I misquoted (and therefore lied) and apologize to the person directly. As far as I know, I haven't done that....but if I were to have done that, it would be a sin.