1 deception | Definition of deception
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deception

noun
de·​cep·​tion | \ di-ˈsep-shÉ™n How to pronounce deception (audio) \

Definition of deception

1a : the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid : the act of deceiving resorting to falsehood and deception used deception to leak the classified information
b : the fact or condition of being deceived the deception of his audience
2 : something that deceives : trick fooled by a scam artist's clever deception
Other Words from deception Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about deception

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Other Words from deception

deceptional \ di-​ˈsep-​shÉ™-​nÉ™l How to pronounce deceptional (audio) \ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for deception

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

Examples of deception in a Sentence

She accuses the company of willful deception in its advertising. His many deceptions did not become known until years after he died.

Recent Examples on the Web

 Reader has been charged with tampering with evidence, tampering with records, theft, conflict of interest and securing writings by deception on June 28, according to court records. — Madeline Mitchell, Cincinnati.com, "Auditor's report on Pike County Sheriff: Gambling, seized cash and impounded vehicles," 3 Sep. 2019 Court records show Rose was booked into the Etowah County Jail on Wednesday on a charge of theft by deception. — Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, "Alabama man accused of falsely collecting money for child with cancer," 29 Aug. 2019 Reynaldo Lopez and missed opportunities The A’s had seen Lopez before, at least, but past experience didn’t do much to solve the White Sox hurler’s mysterious works of deception. — Shayna Rubin, The Mercury News, "‘I’ve never taken so many fastballs that were in the strike zone’: Athletics run into buzzsaw in Chicago," 10 Aug. 2019 Theft by deception: Chagrin Boulevard At 10:20 a.m. July 24, the president of a Chagrin Boulevard company reported that someone manufactured a false check and cashed it against the company’s business account. — cleveland.com, "Five men in car in mall lot arrested for suspected drug trafficking: Beachwood police blotter," 31 July 2019 Bobbitt pleaded guilty at the local level to one count of conspiracy to commit theft by deception, and both Bobbitt and McClure pleaded guilty to a federal charge as well. — Eric Levenson, CNN, "Sentencing in GoFundMe scam case delayed until September," 15 July 2019 Johnny Bobbitt had pleaded guilty in state court to conspiracy to commit theft by deception. — David Porter, The Seattle Times, "Homeless ‘good Samaritan’ gets probation in gas money scam," 12 Apr. 2019 But Donald Trump has a way of making anyone who gets caught up in his cruel web of deception seem like a victim. — Dahleen Glanton, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Why would Donald Trump pardon Rod Blagojevich? Maybe he sees a mirror image of himself a few years down the road.," 14 Aug. 2019 The US Securities and Exchange Commission also accused Facebook of deception, but of investors rather than of users. — Kate Cox, Ars Technica, "FTC fines Facebook $5 billion, imposes new privacy oversight," 24 July 2019

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

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First Known Use of deception

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for deception

Middle English decepcioun, from Anglo-French deception, from Late Latin deception-, deceptio, from Latin decipere to deceive

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More Definitions for deception

deception

noun
How to pronounce deception (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of deception

: the act of making someone believe something that is not true : the act of deceiving someone
: an act or statement intended to make people believe something that is not true

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

deception

noun
de·​cep·​tion | \ di-ˈsep-shÉ™n How to pronounce deception (audio) \

Kids Definition of deception

1 : the act of making someone believe something that is not true Magicians are masters of deception.
2 : trick entry 1 sense 1 His clever deception fooled me.

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