What does "hypocrisy" mean?

1. (moral self-contradiction) the act of saying you believe in certain good things but then doing the opposite. 2. (a specific instance) a specific example or case where someone has been insincere or used a double standard.

Is it correct to say "He is a hypocrisy."?

No — say "He is a hypocrite.". Use 'hypocrisy' for the concept or the action, but use 'hypocrite' to describe the person.

hypocrisy

US //hɪˈpɑkɹəsi// UK //hɪpˈɒkɹəsi// hypocrisy

1 moral self-contradiction (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the act of saying you believe in certain good things but then doing the opposite.

the practice of engaging in the same behaviour for which one criticises others, or claiming to possess virtues that one's actions belie.

Example

It was pure hypocrisy for the boss to complain about lateness when he was always late himself.

Example

The politician's hypocrisy was exposed when journalists discovered he had been evading the very taxes he had publicly campaigned to increase.
- insincerity
- double standard
- duplicity
Pitfall

He is a hypocrisy.

He is a hypocrite.

Use 'hypocrisy' for the concept or the action, but use 'hypocrite' to describe the person.
2 a specific instance (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

a specific example or case where someone has been insincere or used a double standard.

a particular instance or occurrence of hypocritical behaviour. Countable in this sense.

Example

The report listed several hypocrisies in the company's environmental policy.

Example

Critics were quick to point out the various hypocrisies inherent in the administration's new stance on international trade.
- pretence
- sham

Origin

From hypo- + Ancient Greek κρί(σις) (krí(sis)) + -isy. From Middle English ipocrisie, from Old French ypocrisie, from Late Latin hypocrisis, from Ancient Greek ὑπόκρισις (hupókrisis, “answer, stage acting, pretense”), from ὑποκρίνομαι (hupokrínomai, “I answer (a fellow actor on stage), play a part, dissemble, feign”), from ὑπό (hupó, “under, equivalent of the modern "hypo-" prefix”) + the middle voice of κρίνω (krínō, “I separate, judge, decide”) + -isy. Displaced native Old English līċettung.