defraud

verb

de·​fraud di-ˈfrȯd 

dē-

defrauded; defrauding; defrauds

transitive verb

: to deprive of something by deception or fraud

trying to defraud the public

Investors in the scheme were defrauded of their life savings.

defrauder

di-ˈfrȯ-dər 

dē-

noun

Synonyms of defraud

• cheat
• squeeze
• pluck
• hustle
• sting
• deceive
• bilk
• swindle
• screw
• victimize
• beat

Choose the Right Synonym for defraud

cheat, cozen, defraud, swindle mean to get something by dishonesty or deception.

cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation.

cheated me out of a dollar

cozen implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose.

always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars

defraud stresses depriving one of his or her rights and usually connotes deliberate perversion of the truth.

defrauded of her inheritance by an unscrupulous lawyer

swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence.

swindled of their savings by con artists

Examples of defraud in a Sentence

They were accused of trying to defraud the public.

They conspired to defraud the government.

She was convicted of writing bad checks with intent to defraud.

Recent Examples on the Web

As a result of an investigation by the FBI San Diego Field Office, federal authorities have seized and shut down a web domain used to defraud Americans through cryptocurrency investment-fraud scams, officials announced Tuesday. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Dec. 2025

Hochberg was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and with obstruction of justice. —Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 2 Dec. 2025

Amiri, an ex-Antioch K9 officer convicted of siccing his dog on a man and conspiring to defraud the city in a college degree scam, was sentenced to seven years in prison earlier this year. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025

But The Gilded Age doesn’t do pure villains with its main cast, and Oscar totters between failson and tragic figure, the closeted heir of the Van Rhijn family dragged to hell and back after being defrauded of his mother’s fortune. —Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French defrauder, from Latin defraudare, from de- + fraudare to cheat, from fraud-, fraus fraud

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for defraud

• abroad
• applaud
• backboard
• ballade
• ephod
• facade
• guffawed
• outlawed
• ramrod
• roughshod
• slipshod
• tripod

Kids Definition

defraud

verb

de·​fraud di-ˈfrȯd 

: to deprive of something by trickery, deception, or fraud

defrauder

di-ˈfrȯd-ər 

noun

Legal Definition

defraud

transitive verb

de·​fraud di-ˈfrȯd 

: to deprive of something by fraud

defrauder noun