deception

noun

de·​cep·​tion di-ˈsep-shən How to pronounce deception (audio)
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 adjective
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 My children are growing up in a world where digital deception is increasingly sophisticated. Alexandru Voica, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024 There’s something inherently disturbing about tech that plays at being human, and that uncanny deception can rub people the wrong way. Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 9 Mar. 2024 With a colorful cast of characters, the play is a merry dance of romance, comedy, and playful deception perfect for audiences of all ages. David Catlin, The Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2024 Now online users have to choose not only which ideas are best, but which are rooted in deception or grounded in honesty. Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 3 Mar. 2024 Election deception is not new — efforts to discourage voting have taken place for decades, Hyde said. Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024 Many romantic comedies utilize deception as a key plot point. Courtney Howard, Variety, 14 Feb. 2024 The United Nations defines human trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit. Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Feb. 2024 Before my departure, our SST team, which was composed of chemists, engineers, physicists, woodworkers, linguists, artists, and forensics experts, continued to plan and rehearse deception schemes on the streets of Washington, DC. Dawn Klavon, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deception.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of deception was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near deception

Cite this Entry

“Deception.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deception. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

deception

noun
de·​cep·​tion di-ˈsep-shən How to pronounce deception (audio)
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 How to pronounce deception (audio)
1
: an act of deceiving
2
: something that deceives : deceit

More from Merriam-Webster on deception

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