trick question
noun
: a deceptive question that is intended to make one give an answer that is not correct or that causes difficulty
Examples of trick question in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The guitarist was in good spirits, but would occasionally toss out a trick question to test their depth of knowledge.
—
Steve Appleford, SPIN, 17 Feb. 2025
What is your overall performance? a) Better than a 5% gain
b) Between 0% and 5% gain
c) Around zero
d) Between 0% and 5% loss
e) Worse than a 5% loss
This is not a trick question.
—Philip Maymin, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
And a who’s-who of dignitaries stacked in the pews like a trick question on any diplomatic quiz as to who gets to sit closest to the front row.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 9 Jan. 2025
One of the exercises involved something of a trick question: What is the most important article of clothing for an ambassador?
—Frank Lavin, Foreign Affairs, 29 Nov. 2012
But not as much as another experience, and that is …
Convenience
So, back to the trick question explanation.
—Shep Hyken, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
While every recruiter and hiring manager is different, this is rarely used as a trick question.
—Dr. Kyle Elliott, Mpa, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
This is almost a trick question: According to Romanowski, there actually isn't a huge incentive to use conditioners based on your hair type.
—Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, 25 Sep. 2023
Don't fall for the trick question of whether the banh mi at Lee's Bakery is the best in metro Atlanta (or even one of the top versions in America), as more than a few prominent voices in food media have suggested.
—Mike Jordan, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2023
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.
Steve Appleford, SPIN, 17 Feb. 2025
What is your overall performance? a) Better than a 5% gain
b) Between 0% and 5% gain
c) Around zero
d) Between 0% and 5% loss
e) Worse than a 5% loss
This is not a trick question.
—Philip Maymin, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
And a who’s-who of dignitaries stacked in the pews like a trick question on any diplomatic quiz as to who gets to sit closest to the front row.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 9 Jan. 2025
One of the exercises involved something of a trick question: What is the most important article of clothing for an ambassador?
—Frank Lavin, Foreign Affairs, 29 Nov. 2012
But not as much as another experience, and that is …
Convenience
So, back to the trick question explanation.
—Shep Hyken, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
While every recruiter and hiring manager is different, this is rarely used as a trick question.
—Dr. Kyle Elliott, Mpa, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
This is almost a trick question: According to Romanowski, there actually isn't a huge incentive to use conditioners based on your hair type.
—Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, 25 Sep. 2023
Don't fall for the trick question of whether the banh mi at Lee's Bakery is the best in metro Atlanta (or even one of the top versions in America), as more than a few prominent voices in food media have suggested.
—Mike Jordan, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Trick question.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trick%20question. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share