# hypocritical

/ˌhɪpəˈkɹɪtɪkəɫ/ (US) · /hˌɪpəkɹˈɪtɪkəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hypocritical
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

behaving in a way that is different from what you tell other people to do. You use this when someone says one thing but does the opposite.

For teachers: characterised by the false claim of possessing higher standards or more noble beliefs than is actually the case. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be' or 'seem'.

## Examples

- It is hypocritical to tell others to recycle while you throw away plastic.
- The politician's stance on environmental protection was seen as hypocritical after he accepted donations from major oil companies.
- Critics argued that the CEO's memo regarding corporate austerity was deeply hypocritical, given that he had recently approved a massive increase in his own executive compensation package.

## Pitfalls

- Not "he is a hypocritical" but "he is a hypocrite" — Learners often use the adjective form when they need the noun 'hypocrite' to label a person.

## Usage notes

- Often follows a linking verb or precedes a noun; frequently takes the preposition 'of' when describing an action ('it was hypocritical of him').

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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.