deception

noun Etymology: Middle English decepcioun, from Anglo-French deception, from Late Latin deception-, deceptio, from Latin decipere to deceive Date: 15th century 1. a. the act of deceiving b. the fact or condition of being deceived 2. something that deceives ; trick <

a clever deception

> • deceptional adjective Synonyms: deception, fraud, double-dealing, subterfuge, trickery mean the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives. deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource <

magicians are masters of deception

>. fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice <

indicted for fraud

>. double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude <

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

>. subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end <

obtained the papers by subterfuge

>. trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat <

resorted to trickery to gain their ends

>.