hypocrite

[hip-uh-krit]

noun

1. a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that they do not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.

2. a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie their public statements.

hypocrite

/ ˈhɪpəkrɪt /

noun

1. a person who pretends to be what he is not

Other Word Forms

• hypocritically adverb
• hypocritical adjective
• superhypocrite noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypocrite¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English ipocrite from Old French, from Late Latin hypocrita, from Greek hypokritḗs “a stage actor,” hence “one who pretends to be what he is not,” equivalent to hypokrī(nesthai) ( hypocrisy ) + -tēs agent suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypocrite¹

C13: from Old French ipocrite, via Late Latin, from Greek hupokritēs one who plays a part, from hupokrinein to feign, from krinein to judge

Example Sentences

The Texas town’s megachurch in “The Hunting Wives” provides spiritual cover for trigger-happy hypocrites.

From Salon

Souris observes that the song “. . .is a blues song, not because of any chord progression, but because Sinéad sees the world for what it is and laments its hypocrites.”

From Salon

“My hope is that I’m getting to bring one of the greatest hypocrites to life in a way that will both make people laugh and also make them recognize that archetype.”

From Los Angeles Times

But I’m in the news business, and I felt like a hypocrite, so I kept sneaking peeks.

From Los Angeles Times

Before being sentenced, Hadi Matar stood and made a statement about freedom of speech in which he called Rushdie a hypocrite.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bigot 
• charlatan 
• crook 
• impostor 
• phony 
• trickster