deceit

noun

de·​ceit di-ˈsēt How to pronounce deceit (audio)
1
: the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid : the act or practice of deceiving : deception
achieving one's goals through a web of deceit
2
: an attempt or device to deceive : trick
Her excuse turned out to be a deceit.
3
: the quality of being dishonest or misleading : the quality of being deceitful : deceitfulness
… far from deceit or guile.John Milton

Examples of deceit in a Sentence

a rise to power that was marked by treachery and deceit she's completely free of deceit
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Much of the series’ pathos hinges on the growing schism between mother and son as Kanan begins to understand the horrors of Raq’s machinations and deceit (including tricking him into assassinating his biological father), leading him to try to go into business for himself. Robyn Bahr, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2025 Thirteen showed signs of possible deceit or suspicious activity. Donna McGuire, Cummings, and Glenn E. Rice, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2025 Only someone thoroughly marinated in gender ideology could believe this of a doctor who was just trying to raise the alarm about deceit in the treatment of children. The Editors, National Review, 16 Jan. 2025 The exposé marked the beginning of the end for Theranos, as multiple whistleblowers came forward with claims of secrets and deceit. Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deceit

Word History

Etymology

Middle English deceite, from Anglo-French, from Latin decepta, feminine of deceptus, past participle of decipere — see deceive

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deceit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deceit. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

deceit

noun
de·​ceit di-ˈsēt How to pronounce deceit (audio)
1
: the act or practice of deceiving : deception
2
: an attempt or scheme to deceive : trick
3
: the quality of being deceitful

Legal Definition

deceit

noun
de·​ceit
: deliberate and misleading concealment, false declaration, or artifice : deception
theft by deceit
also : the tort of committing or carrying out deceit
an action for deceit
see also fraud, misrepresentation

More from Merriam-Webster on deceit

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