Word
deceit
Phoneticsde·ceit, stress on the second syllable
US/dəˈsit/
UK/dɪsˈiːt/
Definitions
01dishonesty
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the quality of being dishonest or the habit of hiding the truth.
n. the abstract state or quality of being deceitful; a disposition toward dishonesty or concealment.
“The politician's career was ruined when his long history of deceit was revealed.”
“The novel explores the web of deceit that binds the family together, showing how small lies eventually lead to total structural collapse.”
Synonyms
02a trick or lie
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a specific lie or trick used to make someone believe something that is not true.
n. a specific act, statement, or practice intended to mislead or trick another person.
“He used a clever deceit to get into the building without an ID.”
“The elaborate deceits employed by the spy allowed him to operate undetected within the ministry for over a decade.”
03fraudulent representation
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Law Technical · Formal
n. in law, the act of lying about an important fact to hurt someone or take their money.
n. the tort of fraudulent representation of a material fact made with knowledge of its falsity to induce reliance and cause injury.
“The company was sued for deceit after lying about the safety of their cars.”
“To succeed in an action for deceit, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant made a false representation with the intent that it be acted upon.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'action for deceit' or 'tort of deceit'.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“This year, however, their marriages are threatened by one husband’s deceit, the lingering attraction between old friends and the arrival of a vivacious teenage stepdaughter.” “Now it feels more crucial than ever to think for ourselves, debunk the deceits and sort the sheep from the goats.” Etymology
From Middle English deceyte, from Old French deceite, deçoite, from decevoir (“to deceive”), from Latin dēcipere (“to cheat, mislead”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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