Word
deception
Phoneticsde·cep·tion, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈsɛpʃən/
UK/dɪsˈɛpʃən/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the act of hiding the truth or making someone believe something that is not true. You use this when someone is being dishonest to get an advantage.
n. the act of deliberately misleading or tricking someone into believing a falsehood. Often involves the concealment of truth for personal gain or strategic advantage.
Examples
“The magician used clever deception to hide the coin.”
“He was found guilty of obtaining the money through deception by using a fake identity.”
“In the world of international espionage, the line between strategic deception and genuine diplomacy is often blurred to the point of invisibility.”
Examples
simple
“The magician used clever deception to hide the coin.”
contextual
“He was found guilty of obtaining the money through deception by using a fake identity.”
complex
“In the world of international espionage, the line between strategic deception and genuine diplomacy is often blurred to the point of invisibility.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the abstract concept of dishonesty; countable when referring to specific instances or tricks.
Pitfall
He committed a deception against me.
He deceived me.
Learners often use the noun 'deception' with 'commit' when the verb 'deceive' is more natural for personal interactions.
Real-World Examples
“The polygraph’s power lies in creating the conditions under which deception is confessed.” “Series two keeps the bar for grim deception high, beginning with Liv’s whirlwind romance with Matthew, who was desperate to have a family with her.” Etymology
From Middle English decepcioun, from Old French decepcion, from Latin dēcipiō (“to deceive”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/deception