hypocrisy

noun

hy·poc·ri·sy | \ hi-ˈpä-krə-sē also hī-

plural hypocrisies

Definition of hypocrisy

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 & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about hypocrisy

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Examples of hypocrisy in a Sentence

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

The president is also accusing Germany of hypocrisy for relying on Russia for energy. — Fox News, "President Trump puts NATO on notice," 12 July 2018 The point of the monologue was to show hypocrisy in Trump's accusation, given that the president has expressed admiration for Russian president Vladimir Putin before. — Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, "Late-Night Hosts Take Shots at Trump's NATO Summit Performance," 11 July 2018 But the franchise lives (or dies) on its own hypocrisy, shaking its head at a society encouraging such sickness while relishing the narrative possibilities. — Michael Phillips, kansascity, "In ‘First Purge’ prequel, there’s no avoiding politics or buckets of blood," 3 July 2018 But the franchise lives (or dies) on its own hypocrisy, shaking its head at a society encouraging such sickness while relishing the narrative possibilities. — Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, "'The First Purge' review: The riskiest-ever federal entitlement program begins," 3 July 2018 Having painted itself as a staunch defender of creators’ copyright on YouTube, Google is now exposing its internal hypocrisy and disregard for that right. — Vlad Savov, The Verge, "Google didn’t pay for stock footage used in the Selfish Ledger video," 24 May 2018 The hypocrisy and do-nothing-ism doesn't stop there. — Jill Filipovic, Cosmopolitan, "Republican Lawmakers Are Human Shrug Emojis," 27 Feb. 2018 Already Democrats are charging Republicans with hypocrisy for pressing ahead with a vote on Justice Anthony Kennedy’s replacement before the midterm elections take place. — Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, "For the record: Supreme Court nominees considered in ‘election years’," 27 June 2018 Anything but that would be the absolute height of hypocrisy. — Andrew Seidman, Philly.com, "Justice Kennedy's retirement jolts midterm elections," 27 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hypocrisy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for hypocrisy

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

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More Definitions for hypocrisy

hypocrisy

noun

English Language Learners Definition of hypocrisy

: the behavior of people who do things that they tell other people not to do : behavior that does not agree with what someone claims to believe or feel

See the full definition for hypocrisy in the English Language Learners Dictionary

hypocrisy

noun

hy·poc·ri·sy | \ hi-ˈpä-krə-sē

plural hypocrisies