deceit

[dih-seet]

noun

1. the act or practice of deceiving; concealment or distortion of the truth for the purpose of misleading; duplicity; fraud; cheating.

   Once she exposed their deceit, no one ever trusted them again.

   Synonyms: dissimulation, deception

2. an act or device intended to deceive; trick; stratagem.

3. the quality of being deceitful; duplicity; falseness.

   a man full of deceit.

   Antonyms: sincerity, honesty

deceit

/ dɪˈsiːt /

noun

1. the act or practice of deceiving

2. a statement, act, or device intended to mislead; fraud; trick

3. a tendency to deceive

Other Word Forms

• nondeceit noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of deceit¹

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English deceite, from Anglo-French, Old French, noun use of feminine of deceit “deceived,” past participle of deceivre “to deceive”; deceive

Word History and Origins

Origin of deceit¹

C13: from Old French deceite, from deceivre to _deceive

Synonym Study

See duplicity

Example Sentences

That the audience is made privy to this deceit, including how Dennis forced his way into Roman’s life, casts a complex tension on their subsequent heart-to-hearts.

From Los Angeles Times

Acting as a special prosecutor, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican, secured two felony counts of stealing by deceit and two election-law violations.

From Salon

“The lies, deceit, exaggerations and misrepresentations need to be addressed with the only thing that can refute them — the true facts.”

From Los Angeles Times

But Cochran would later describe the case as “a twilight zone of deceit, dishonesty, betrayal and official corruption.”

From Los Angeles Times

National studies confirm voter impersonation is exceedingly rare, with most claims rooted in clerical errors rather than deceit.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• chicanery 
• deception 
• dishonesty 
• duplicity 
• fraud 
• hypocrisy 
• treachery 
• trickery 

When To Use

What does deceit mean?

Deceit is the act or practice of deceiving—lying, misleading, or otherwise hiding or distorting the truth. The word deception often means the same thing and is perhaps more commonly used.Deceit doesn’t just involve lying. It can consist of misrepresenting or omitting the truth or more complicated cover-ups. Anything that involves intentionally misleading someone is deceit.The word deceit often implies a pattern of behavior, rather than a one-time act. The adjective deceitful can describe something that deceives or is intended to deceive, or someone who is known for engaging in deceit.Less commonly, the word deceit can refer to an action, scheme, or trick intended to deceive, as in It was a clever deceit, but I didn’t fall for it. Another less common sense of the word refers to the quality of being deceitful. A deceitful person can be said to be full of deceit.Example: I’m sick of your constant lying and deceit—I can’t trust anything you say!