# deception

/dɪˈsɛpʃən/ (US) · /dɪsˈɛpʃən/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/deception
Updated: 2026-05-03

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He committed a deception against me." but "He deceived me." — Learners often use the noun 'deception' with 'commit' when the verb 'deceive' is more natural for personal interactions.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the abstract concept of dishonesty; countable when referring to specific instances or tricks.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.