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 of defraud

• cheat
• squeeze
• pluck
• hustle
• sting
• deceive
• bilk
• swindle
• screw
• victimize
• beat

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

In 2022, during the Biden administration, federal prosecutors uncovered a scheme to defraud a pandemic meals program in Minnesota’s Somali community, leading to charges against dozens of defendants and a growing number of convictions. —Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 24 Jan. 2026

The Board of Education is now pursuing legal action against former administrators and vendors, accusing them of conspiring to defraud the district. —Ali Bauman, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026

Cruz was found guilty of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and to make false statements relating to health care matters and three counts of structuring. —Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026

The bill proposes to add revenue to the VOCA fund by pulling from monetary penalties against people or companies convicted of defrauding the government through the False Claims Act. —Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 21 Jan. 2026

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

Rhymes for defraud

• abroad
• applaud
• backboard
• ballade
• ephod
• facade
• guffawed
• outlawed
• ramrod
• roughshod
• slipshod
• tripod

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