fraud
n.-
1 the crime of deception (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Lawthe crime of using tricks or lies to get money or property from someone.
the intentional use of deceit, trickery, or perversion of truth to induce another to part with something of value or a legal right.
ExampleThe businessman was arrested for credit card fraud after stealing thousands of dollars.
ExampleThe investigation uncovered a massive case of insurance fraud involving several high-ranking executives and a network of shell companies.
UsageOften used uncountably to refer to the crime in general, or countably to refer to a specific instance.
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2 a person who is a fake (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatea person who pretends to be someone else or to have skills they do not really have.
a person who is not what they pretend to be; an impostor or a charlatan.
ExampleHe felt like a fraud when he realized he didn't know as much as the other experts.
ExampleDespite his expensive suit and confident manner, the board eventually realized he was a fraud with no actual medical degree.
UsageUsed as a countable noun to describe an individual.
Teacher's tipThis sense is often used in a personal or social context to express a feeling of inadequacy, such as 'impostor syndrome'.
From Middle English fraude (recorded since 1345), from Old French fraude, a borrowing from Latin fraus (“deceit, injury, offence”).
- Verbdefraud
- Nounfraud
- Adjectivefraudulent
- Adverbfraudulently