deception

[dih-sep-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of deceiving; the state of being deceived.

2. something that deceives or is intended to deceive; fraud; artifice.

   Synonyms: imposture, hoax, wile, ruse, stratagem, trick

deception

/ dɪˈsɛpʃən /

noun

1. the act of deceiving or the state of being deceived

2. something that deceives; trick

Other Word Forms

• nondeception noun
• predeception noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of deception¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English decepcioun, from Old French, from Late Latin dēceptiōn-, stem of dēceptiō “deceitfulness,” from Latin dēcept(us) “deceived” (past participle of dēcipere; deceive ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

"But despite all those outward positives, we see ... you still struggle with anti-social personality traits like deception, minimisation and rule-breaking that lie beneath that positive surface."

From BBC

Garland also pointed to an assessment that found Menendez exhibited antisocial traits, entitlement, deception, manipulation and a resistance to accept consequences.

From Los Angeles Times

The deception started on Aug. 19, when the Tennessee-based chain in a press release announced changes to its logo and menu as part of a campaign titled “All the More.”

From Los Angeles Times

About 19 famous faces will compete in the game of deception and betrayal in the Scottish Highlands to win up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice.

From BBC

“Misleading automatic renewal subscriptions and false advertising practices don’t sell products — they sell deception,” said Santa Clara County Dist.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• betrayal 
• deceit 
• disinformation 
• duplicity 
• falsehood 
• fraud 
• hypocrisy 
• lying 
• mendacity 
• treachery 
• trickery 
• untruth 

When To Use

What does deception mean?

Deception is the act or practice of deceiving—lying, misleading, or otherwise hiding or distorting the truth. The related word deceit often means the same thing.Deception 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 deception. People can even engage in self-deception by avoiding the truth.The word deception often implies a pattern of behavior, rather than a one-time act. The adjective deceptive can describe something that deceives or is intended to deceive. A person who engages in deception can be described as deceitful.Less commonly, the word deception can refer to an action, scheme, or trick intended to deceive, as in It was a clever deception, but I didn’t fall for it. Example: I’m sick of your constant lying and deception—I can’t trust anything you say!