defraud

verb

de·​fraud di-ˈfrȯd How to pronounce defraud (audio)
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 noun
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Jane Street founder allegedly hoodwinked into funding arms deal Robert Granieri, a co-founder of Jane Street Group, was defrauded into a $7 million purchase of AK-47s, Stinger missiles, and grenades for a coup in South Sudan, according to prosecutors. Diane Brady, Fortune, 26 June 2025 The Borrower Defense rule has been in place since 1994 but was rewritten by the Biden administration in 2022 to make the process easier for borrowers who were defrauded by a college to have those loans forgiven before a default, Forbes reported. Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025 Reports tabled before the Senate showed more than 300 Kenyans were defrauded by agencies accredited by the National Employment Authority to support the labor export programme. Martin K.n Siele, semafor.com, 20 June 2025 In 2022, a jury convicted the couple of defrauding community banks of more than $30 million for personal loans as well as tax evasion. Melina Khan, USA Today, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for defraud

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of defraud was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Defraud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defraud. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

defraud

verb
de·​fraud di-ˈfrȯd How to pronounce defraud (audio)
: to deprive of something by trickery, deception, or fraud
defrauder noun

Legal Definition

defraud

transitive verb
de·​fraud di-ˈfrȯd How to pronounce defraud (audio)
: to deprive of something by fraud
defrauder noun

More from Merriam-Webster on defraud

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