defraud

verb

de·​fraud di-ˈfrȯd 

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

di-ˈfrȯ-dər 

dē-

noun

Synonyms

• beat
• bilk
• bleed
• cheat
• chisel
• chouse
• con
• cozen
• diddle
• do
• do in
• euchre
• fiddle
• fleece
• flimflam
• gaff
• hose [slang]
• hustle
• mulct
• nobble [British slang]
• pluck
• ream
• rip off
• rook
• screw
• shake down
• short
• shortchange
• skin
• skunk
• squeeze
• stick
• stiff
• sting
• sucker
• swindle
• thimblerig
• victimize

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

Bragg claims that Trump did so in order to conceal other attempts to defraud voters in the final days of the election. —Kyler Alvord, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024

Between 2013 and 2019, Garza deposited nearly $500,000 in unreported income into his bank accounts, in part from the H-2A extortion and also as part of a separate scheme defrauding F.D.C., according to the release. —Rachel Spacek, Idaho Statesman, 15 Apr. 2024

Smith charged Trump with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. —Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024

According to New York state law, a charge of falsifying business records in the first degree alleges that the defendant committed a crime of falsifying business records with the intent to defraud. —Brooke Singman, Fox News, 15 Apr. 2024

In addition to defrauding the HOA, Gordon was accused of wrongly reporting her income to the IRS from 2017 through 2021, according to prosecutors. —Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024

But the system is in shambles, and weak oversight has enabled guardians to abuse, neglect and defraud the very people they are supposed to care for. —Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 2 Apr. 2024

Hill was indicted last week and charged with three counts of exploitation of the elderly, two counts of fraudulent use of personal identification, one count of mortgage fraud and one count of scheming to defraud over $50,000. —Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024

Both individuals orchestrated massive pyramid schemes, defrauding investors of billions. —James Broughel, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

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

Kids Definition

defraud

verb

de·​fraud di-ˈfrȯd 

: to deprive of something by trickery, deception, or fraud

defrauder

di-ˈfrȯd-ər 

noun

Legal Definition

defraud

transitive verb

de·​fraud di-ˈfrȯd 

: to deprive of something by fraud

defrauder noun