deception

noun

de·​cep·​tion di-ˈsep-shən 

1

a

: the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid : the act of deceiving

resorting to falsehood and deception

used deception to leak the classified information

b

: the fact or condition of being deceived

the deception of his audience

2

: something that deceives : trick

fooled by a scam artist's clever deception

deceptional

di-ˈsep-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• artifice
• cheating
• cozenage
• craft
• craftiness
• crookedness
• crookery
• cunning
• cunningness
• deceit
• deceitfulness
• deceptiveness
• dishonesty
• dissembling
• dissimulation
• double-dealing
• dupery
• duplicity
• fakery
• foxiness
• fraud
• guile
• guilefulness
• wiliness

Choose the Right Synonym for deception

deception, fraud, double-dealing, subterfuge, trickery mean the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives.

deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource.

magicians are masters of deception

fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice.

indicted for fraud

double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude.

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end.

obtained the papers by subterfuge

trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat.

resorted to trickery to gain their ends

Examples of deception in a Sentence

She accuses the company of willful deception in its advertising.

His many deceptions did not become known until years after he died.

Recent Examples on the Web

The series was loosely inspired by the non-fiction book The Woman Who Fooled the World, written by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, the two journalists who uncovered the details of Gibson’s deception. —Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2025

One of the great joys of the U.S. version of The Traitors is watching familiar faces across the reality TV map converge in a game of strategy and deception (and, yes, mehrduhr). —Joe Reid, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025

Some users saw deception as the biggest issue, while others questioned whether the wife's stance was fair, given the monetary opportunity. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025

Ahead of the trial, Sherborne alleged the newspapers had used deception to obtain his clients' medical, phone and flight records, as well as bugging homes and placing listening devices into cars. —Max Taylor, NBC News, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English decepcioun, from Anglo-French deception, from Late Latin deception-, deceptio, from Latin decipere to deceive

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing deception

• practice deception on
• self-deception

Kids Definition

deception

noun

de·​cep·​tion di-ˈsep-shən 

1

a

: the act of deceiving

b

: the fact or condition of being deceived

2

: something that deceives : trick

Legal Definition

deception

noun

de·​cep·​tion di-ˈsep-shən 

1

: an act of deceiving

2

: something that deceives : deceit