fraud

noun

1
a
: deceit, trickery
specifically : intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right
was accused of credit card fraud
b
: an act of deceiving or misrepresenting : trick
automobile insurance frauds
2
a
: a person who is not what he or she pretends to be : impostor
He claimed to be a licensed psychologist, but he turned out to be a fraud.
also : one who defrauds : cheat
b
: one that is not what it seems or is represented to be
The UFO picture was proved to be a fraud.
Choose the Right Synonym for fraud

deception, fraud, double-dealing, subterfuge, trickery mean the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives.

deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource.

magicians are masters of deception

fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice.

indicted for fraud

double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude.

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end.

obtained the papers by subterfuge

trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat.

resorted to trickery to gain their ends

imposture, fraud, sham, fake, humbug, counterfeit mean a thing made to seem other than it is.

imposture applies to any situation in which a spurious object or performance is passed off as genuine.

their claim of environmental concern is an imposture

fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth.

the diary was exposed as a fraud

sham applies to fraudulent imitation of a real thing or action.

condemned the election as a sham

fake implies an imitation of or substitution for the genuine but does not necessarily imply dishonesty.

these jewels are fakes; the real ones are in the vault

humbug suggests elaborate pretense usually so flagrant as to be transparent.

creating publicity by foisting humbugs on a gullible public

counterfeit applies especially to the close imitation of something valuable.

20-dollar bills that were counterfeits

Examples of fraud in a Sentence

He was found guilty of bank fraud. He was the victim of an elaborate fraud. He claimed he was a licensed psychologist, but he turned out to be a fraud. The UFO picture was proved to be a fraud.
Recent Examples on the Web This case was possibly the worst case of fraud the UK courts have seen. Susie Violet Ward, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024 Metro Detroit voters who suspect voter fraud or intimidation can contact Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Martin, who has been assigned to act as the District Election Officer in the eastern district of Michigan. Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 18 Oct. 2024 An Associated Press review of every potential case of voter fraud in the six battleground states disputed by Trump found fewer than 475, a number that would have made no difference in the outcome. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2024 Schiff was publicly accused of fraud in 2023 in two lawsuits, the first filed by real estate heiress and collector Candace Carmel Barasch and collector Richard Grossman, and the second by Barasch and her husband, Michael Barasch. News Desk, Artforum, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fraud 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fraud.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fraude, from Anglo-French, from Latin fraud-, fraus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fraud was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near fraud

Cite this Entry

“Fraud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fraud. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

fraud

noun
1
a
: trickery, deceit
especially : the use of dishonest methods to cheat another person of something valuable
b
: an act of deceiving : trick
2
: a person who pretends to be what he or she is not

Legal Definition

fraud

noun
1
a
: any act, expression, omission, or concealment calculated to deceive another to his or her disadvantage
specifically : a misrepresentation or concealment with reference to some fact material to a transaction that is made with knowledge of its falsity or in reckless disregard of its truth or falsity and with the intent to deceive another and that is reasonably relied on by the other who is injured thereby
b
: the affirmative defense of having acted in response to a fraud
2
: the crime or tort of committing fraud
convicted of securities fraud
see also misrepresentation

Note: A tort action based on fraud is also referred to as an action of deceit.

actual fraud
: fraud committed with the actual intent to deceive and thereby injure another

called also fraud in fact

compare constructive fraud in this entry
collateral fraud
: extrinsic fraud in this entry
constructive fraud
: conduct that is considered fraud under the law despite the absence of an intent to deceive because it has the same consequences as an actual fraud would have and it is against public interests (as because of the violation of a public or private trust or confidence, the breach of a fiduciary duty, or the use of undue influence)

called also legal fraud

compare actual fraud in this entry
equitable fraud
: constructive fraud in this entry used especially in New Jersey
extrinsic fraud
: fraud (as that involved in making a false offer of compromise) that induces one not to present a case in court or deprives one of the opportunity to be heard
also : fraud that is not involved in the actual issues presented to a court and that prevents a full and fair hearing

called also collateral fraud

compare intrinsic fraud in this entry
fraud in fact
: actual fraud in this entry
fraud in law
: fraud that is presumed to have occurred in light of the circumstances irrespective of intent to deceive
fraud in the factum
: fraud in which the deception causes the other party to misunderstand the nature of the transaction in which he or she is engaging especially with regard to the contents of an instrument (as a contract or promissory note)

called also fraud in the execution

compare fraud in the inducement in this entry
fraud in the inducement
: fraud in which the deception leads the other party to engage in a transaction the nature of which he or she understands compare fraud in the factum in this entry
fraud on the court
: fraud involving conduct that undermines the integrity of the judicial process (as by improperly influencing a judge, jury, or other court personnel)
also : extrinsic fraud in this entry
identity fraud
: the unauthorized use of another's means of identification (as name or social security number) to commit fraud
intrinsic fraud
: fraud (as by the use of false or forged documents, false claims, or perjured testimony) that deceives the trier of fact and results in a judgment in favor of the party perpetrating the fraud compare extrinsic fraud in this entry
legal fraud
: constructive fraud in this entry
: actual fraud in this entry used especially in New Jersey
mail fraud
: fraud committed by use of the postal service especially as described in title 18 section 1341 of the U.S. Code
wire fraud
: fraud committed by using a means of electronic communication (as a telephone) see also Wire Fraud Act
Etymology

Latin fraud-, fraus

More from Merriam-Webster on fraud

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