deception

noun de·cep·tion \ di-ˈsep-shən \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 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

Obviously, that power is there to be exploited, which is why every president, including Mr Obama, has used it to get his way abroad even if that involves threats, intimidation and, occasionally, deception.

— The Economist, "Donald Trump’s demolition theory of foreign policy won’t work," 7 June 2018
Extradited to Britain, he was sentenced to seven years for theft, fraud and deception.

— Washington Post, "Journalist joins ranks of stranger-than-fiction faked deaths," 30 May 2018
When combined with the real fact that prominent Nazis such as Adolf Eichmann and Josef Mengele had, in fact, fled to South America, Stalin's deception was the genesis of conspiracy theories that Hitler had somehow survived World War II.

— jefferson chase, USA TODAY, "Hitler's teeth analysis dispels myths of Nazi leader's survival," 21 May 2018
But to people who see trickery and deception in everything the government does, the Bundys as the protectors of the truth.

— leah sottile, Longreads, "Bundyville Chapter Four: The Gospel of Bundy," 18 May 2018
Researchers call this phenomenon diagnostic self-deception.

— steve ayan, Scientific American, "10 Things You Don’t Know About Yourself," 15 May 2018
In other words, the bullying and deception at the heart of this industry would end if the market were structured to benefit ticket buyers, not giant companies.

— david dayen, The New Republic, "The Ticket Monopoly Is Worse Than Ever (Thanks, Obama)," 15 May 2018
The two are essential to the comic book storyline involving The Whisperers, a group of bad guys who wear walker skin as a deception.

— troy l. smith, cleveland.com, "'The Walking Dead' Season 9: Are The Whisperers finally coming?," 3 May 2018
To be sure, deception that limits an individual’s or a parent’s ability to make informed decisions is reprehensible.

— angira patel, STAT, "Is it ever OK for doctors to lie to their patients?," 17 Apr. 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