fraud

fraud

noun \ˈfrȯd\

Definition of FRAUD

1

a : deceit, trickery; specifically : intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right b : an act of deceiving or misrepresenting : trick

2

a : a person who is not what he or she pretends to be : impostor; also : one who defrauds : cheat b : one that is not what it seems or is represented to be

Examples of FRAUD

1. He was found guilty of bank fraud.
2. He was the victim of an elaborate fraud.
3. He claimed he was a licensed psychologist, but he turned out to be a fraud.
4. The UFO picture was proved to be a fraud.

Origin of FRAUD

Middle English fraude, from Anglo-French, from Latin fraud-, fraus

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to FRAUD

Synonyms: bunco (or bunko), con, fiddle [chiefly British], flimflam, gyp, hustle, scam, shell game, sting, swindle

Antonyms: artlessness, forthrightness, good faith, guilelessness, ingenuousness, sincerity

Related Words: cross, fix; Ponzi scheme, pyramid scheme; racket, rip-off; thimblerig, three-card monte; device, dodge, gimmick, jig, ploy, scheme, sleight, stratagem, trick, wile; gouging, overcharging, soaking; counterfeit, fake, forgery, hoax, humbug, phony (also phoney), sham

Near Antonyms: ace, adept, authority, crackerjack (also crackajack), expert, maestro, master, past master, professional, virtuoso, whiz, wizard

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

See Synonym Discussion at deception, imposture

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

Rhymes with FRAUD

awed, baud, bawd, broad, clawed, flawed, gaud, god, jawed, laud, yod