hypocrisy
playSimple Definition of hypocrisy
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: the behavior of people who do things that they tell other people not to do : behavior that does not agree with what someone claims to believe or feel
Full Definition of hypocrisy
plural hy·poc·ri·sies
1 : a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion
2 : an act or instance of hypocrisy
Examples of hypocrisy
When his private letters were made public, they revealed his hypocrisy.
the hypocrisy of people who say one thing but do another
Teenagers often have a keen awareness of their parents' hypocrisies.
Origin of hypocrisy
Middle English ypocrisie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin hypocrisis, from Greek hypokrisis act of playing a part on the stage, hypocrisy, from hypokrinesthai to answer, act on the stage, from hypo- + krinein to decide — more at certain
First Known Use: 13th century
Rhymes with hypocrisy
HYPOCRISY Defined for Kids
hypocrisy
playDefinition of hypocrisy
plural hy·poc·ri·sies
: the quality of acting in a way that goes against claimed beliefs or feelings
Learn More about hypocrisy
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "hypocrisy" Spanish Central: Translation of "hypocrisy" Nglish: Translation of "hypocrisy" for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of "hypocrisy" for Arabic speakers
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