deception

noun de·cep·tion \ di-ˈsep-shən \

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: deception in a Sentence

Definition of deception

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

play \-shə-nəl\ adjective

See deception defined for English-language learners

See deception defined for kids

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 of deception from the Web

Lowther had always had that deception, but never quantified it.

— jon meoli, baltimoresun.com, "Modern analytics paired with traditional scouting helped Orioles land lefty Zac Lowther in 2017 draft," 4 June 2018
The human condition is all about self-deception and willful ignorance of the true nature of things.

— john kass, chicagotribune.com, "Why do we ever do family movie night? It’s hell," 4 May 2018
Lee shared its passion about the deceptions of crime and the need for truth in investigation.

— william l. hamilton, New York Times, "Heiress Plotted 19 Grisly Crimes. Investigation Underway.," 10 Jan. 2018
An epidemic that is the direct and foreseeable result of Purdue’s complex, large-scale, and years-long campaign of deception.

— laura vozzella, Washington Post, "Va. AG Herring sues Perdue Pharma, maker of Oxycontin, blaming it for opioid crisis," 27 June 2018
Over more than 20 years, loans taken by AHAB had to be repaid quickly and replaced by new ones, making the rate of deception unprecedented, Smellie said.

— tiffany kary, Bloomberg.com, "Saudi Company Ruled Complicit in ‘One of the Largest Ponzi Schemes in History’," 4 June 2018
These indictments of deception are also superb paintings.

— cate mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, "At A R E A, it’s transparency and reflection," 23 May 2018
But this bit of deception makes the darkness ahead more surprising.

— jenni laidman, chicagotribune.com, "Summer audiobooks to pack for your next road trip," 21 May 2018
While Iran’s leaders long insisted the country was not building nuclear weapons, its enrichment of uranium and history of deception created deep mistrust.

— Fortune, "What You Should Know About the Iran Nuclear Deal," 8 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'deception.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of deception

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

deception Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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

DECEPTION Defined for English Language Learners

deception

noun

Definition of deception for English Language Learners

: the act of making someone believe something that is not true : the act of deceiving someone
: an act or statement intended to make people believe something that is not true