deception
noun
de·cep·tion
di-ˈsep-shən 
1
a
: 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
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
While the deception operation was ongoing, the agency used its capabilities to track the crew member in a mountain crevice, the official said.
—
Olivia Rinaldi, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
There are, naturally, layers of deception to scrape away first.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
Taiwanese authorities have already highlighted Chinese deception activity in the air and at sea, including large military drones transmitting false aircraft identities.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
In 2024, North Korea claimed to have successfully testlaunched a multiwarhead missile, but South Korea quickly dismissed it as deception to cover up a failed launch.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deception
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Olivia Rinaldi, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
There are, naturally, layers of deception to scrape away first.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
Taiwanese authorities have already highlighted Chinese deception activity in the air and at sea, including large military drones transmitting false aircraft identities.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
In 2024, North Korea claimed to have successfully testlaunched a multiwarhead missile, but South Korea quickly dismissed it as deception to cover up a failed launch.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deception
Cite this Entry
“Deception.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deception. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deception
noun
de·cep·tion
di-ˈsep-shən
1
a
: the act of deceiving
b
: the fact or condition of being deceived
2
: something that deceives : trick
Legal Definition
deception
noun
de·cep·tion
di-ˈsep-shən
1
: an act of deceiving
2
: something that deceives : deceit
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