deception

noun

de·​cep·​tion di-ˈsep-shən How to pronounce deception (audio)
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
deceptional adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for deception

deception, fraud, double-dealing, subterfuge, trickery mean the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives.

deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource.

magicians are masters of deception

fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice.

indicted for fraud

double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude.

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end.

obtained the papers by subterfuge

trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat.

resorted to trickery to gain their ends

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
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.
Success is measured not only by individual survival but by the ability to either maintain deception as a traitor or detect betrayal as a faithful within the game’s high-stakes environment. Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 14 Sep. 2025 The most severe charge facing Lampers is felony grand theft by deception, which carries potential prison time. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 11 Sep. 2025 On the flip side, secrecy triggers hypervigilance, where one partner obsessively scans for signs of deception or hidden threats, and naturally so given the suspicious nature of the matter. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 In addition to office politics, there is plenty of drama, deception and death, as fans have come to expect from Perry's projects. Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deception

Word History

Etymology

Middle English decepcioun, from Anglo-French deception, from Late Latin deception-, deceptio, from Latin decipere to deceive

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of deception was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deception.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deception. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

deception

noun
de·​cep·​tion di-ˈsep-shən How to pronounce deception (audio)
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 How to pronounce deception (audio)
1
: an act of deceiving
2
: something that deceives : deceit

More from Merriam-Webster on deception

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