hypocrisy

noun

hy·​poc·​ri·​sy hi-ˈpä-krə-sē 

 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

Synonyms

• cant
• dissembling
• dissimulation
• insincerity
• piousness

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

Biden’s document discovery has prompted comparisons to Trump’s handling of classified documents and claims of hypocrisy on the right. —Sara Dorn, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2023

Unsurprisingly, there have been cries of hypocrisy and promises of subpoenas from Republicans. —CBS News, 15 Jan. 2023

Republicans were quick to pounce on the issue, accusing Biden of hypocrisy. —Dallas News, 12 Jan. 2023

Republicans reveled in the new disclosures, accusing Mr. Biden of hypocrisy in calling former President Donald J. Trump irresponsible for hoarding sensitive documents at his private club and residence in Florida. —Glenn Thrush, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2023

And fortunately, most of us retain at least some hatred of hypocrisy throughout our lives, even as life inevitably pounds us into compromises, betrayals and failings. —Ron Charles, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2023

That historical truism leads to impossible dilemmas, which often get resolved through some mixture of expediency, principle, hypocrisy, rationalization, and extremely fine distinctions. —Curbed, 17 Mar. 2022

At my own Princeton University, students are greeted at their very arrival on campus with a freshman-orientation program drenched in hypocrisy, double standards, and indoctrination à la Mao. —Myles Mcknight, National Review, 13 Feb. 2022

That’s led to charges of hypocrisy given their willingness to raise the limit when the debt was rising during the Trump administration. —Jim Puzzanghera, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Dec. 2022

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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

Kids Definition

hypocrisy

noun

hy·​poc·​ri·​sy hip-ˈäk-rə-sē 

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