hypocrisy

noun

hy·​poc·​ri·​sy hi-ˈpä-krə-sē How to pronounce hypocrisy (audio)
 also  hī-
plural hypocrisies
1
: a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not : behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel
His hypocrisy was finally revealed with the publication of his private letters.
especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion
our conventional morality often serves as a cover for hypocrisy and selfishness Lucius Garvin
2
: an act or instance of hypocrisy
a keen awareness of one's parents' hypocrisies

Example Sentences

When his private letters were made public, they revealed his hypocrisy. the hypocrisy of people who say one thing but do another Teenagers often have a keen awareness of their parents' hypocrisies.
Recent Examples on the Web Others say, however, that the co-hosting format goes some ways toward addressing accusations of hypocrisy and Western democracies’ arrogance. Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Mar. 2023 For a white youth to accept the brutal hypocrisies of the way things are is a rite of passage. Darryl Pinckney, The New York Review of Books, 16 Mar. 2023 Qin’s rhetorical question, posed in the context of expressing China’s opposition to U.S. support for Taiwan, appeared to be an accusation of American hypocrisy rather than a suggestion that Beijing was readying to supply weapons to Moscow. Christian Shepherd, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2023 The lyrics are now a phrase commonly used to call out hypocrisies and double standards. Ryan Morik, Fox News, 4 Mar. 2023 His post received both praise and backlash, with commenters pointing to his close relationship to Ms. Zhukova as evidence of hypocrisy. Caitlin Moscatello, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2023 Inconsistencies can increase employees’ perception of corporate hypocrisy and negatively affect their work experiences around inclusion. Linda Chavers, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Feb. 2023 Reading and watching her own version of her life illuminates not just her own story, but the often hideous cultural hypocrisy at work in all forms of the entertainment industry and the media surrounding it, writes culture columnist Mary McNamara. Karim Doumarhead Of Newsletters Feb. 4, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2023 But Kushner’s X-ray of the American psyche also encompasses matters of sexuality, faith (and faithlessness), family, politics, hypocrisy, ethics, history, medicine, and ancestral ghosts. Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 1 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hypocrisy.' 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 ypocrisye, borrowed from Anglo-French ypocrisie, borrowed from Late Latin hypocrisis, ypocrisis, borrowed from Greek hypókrisis "playing a part on the stage, pretending to be something one is not," from hypokri-, variant stem of hypokrī́nomai, hypokrī́nesthai "to reply, make an answer, speak in dialogue, play a part on the stage, feign" (from hypo- hypo- + krī́nomai, middle voice of krī́nō, krī́nein "to separate, choose, decide, judge") + -sis, suffix forming nouns of action or process — more at certain entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hypocrisy was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near hypocrisy

Cite this Entry

“Hypocrisy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypocrisy. Accessed 16 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

hypocrisy

noun
hy·​poc·​ri·​sy hip-ˈäk-rə-sē How to pronounce hypocrisy (audio)
plural hypocrisies
: behavior that does not agree with what one claims to believe or feel
the hypocrisy of people who say one thing and do another

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