Word
fraud
US/ˈfɹɔd/
UK/fɹˈɔːd/
Definitions
01the crime of deception
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Law
n. the crime of using tricks or lies to get money or property from someone.
n. the intentional use of deceit, trickery, or perversion of truth to induce another to part with something of value or a legal right.
日本語:詐欺※
“The businessman was arrested for credit card fraud after stealing thousands of dollars.”
“The investigation uncovered a massive case of insurance fraud involving several high-ranking executives and a network of shell companies.”
Usage
Often used uncountably to refer to the crime in general, or countably to refer to a specific instance.
02a person who is a fake
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person who pretends to be someone else or to have skills they do not really have.
n. a person who is not what they pretend to be; an impostor or a charlatan.
“He felt like a fraud when he realized he didn't know as much as the other experts.”
“Despite his expensive suit and confident manner, the board eventually realized he was a fraud with no actual medical degree.”
Usage
Used as a countable noun to describe an individual.
Teaching tip
This sense is often used in a personal or social context to express a feeling of inadequacy, such as 'impostor syndrome'.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “fraud” in context.
Verb
01. be guilty of fraud
“The jury found the accountant guilty of fraud after seeing the falsified documents.”
verb + prep + noun
02. commit fraud
“He was arrested after he tried to commit fraud by using a stolen credit card.”
verb + noun
03. expose the fraud
“The investigative journalist worked for months to expose the fraud within the company.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. credit card fraud
“Banks use sophisticated software to detect patterns of credit card fraud.”
adj + noun
05. widespread fraud
“The election results were questioned following reports of widespread fraud.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. fraud squad
“The police fraud squad is currently investigating the missing pension funds.”
noun + noun
07. victim of fraud
“The elderly man became a victim of fraud when he shared his bank details over the phone.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. by fraud
“The con artist managed to acquire the property by fraud.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“As well as cyber-enabled fraud, the West African networks also participated in other serious and violent crimes, Interpol said.” “The 32-year-old, who was arrested in a US airport while travelling with Farage, admitted a count of wire fraud in the US in 2017.” Etymology
From Middle English fraude (recorded since 1345), from Old French fraude, a borrowing from Latin fraus (“deceit, injury, offence”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
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.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
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/fraud
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0