decoy

American  

[dee-koi, dih-koi, dih-koi] / ˈdi kɔɪ, dɪˈkɔɪ, dɪˈkɔɪ /

noun

1. a person who entices or lures another person or thing, as into danger, a trap, or the like.

2. anything used as a lure.

   Synonyms:

   allurement, inducement, bait, enticement

3. a trained bird or other animal used to entice game into a trap or within gunshot.

4. an artificial bird, as a painted wooden duck, used for the same purpose.

5. a pond into which wild fowl are lured for capture.

6. an object capable of reflecting radar waves, used as a spurious aircraft, missile, chaff, etc., for the deception of radar detectors.

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verb (used with object)

decoys, present (3rd person singular) decoyed, past participle, past decoying present participle

1. to lure by or as if by a decoy.

   They decoyed the ducks to an area right in front of the blind.

verb (used without object)

decoys, present (3rd person singular) decoyed, past participle, past decoying present participle

1. to become decoyed.

   Ducks decoy more easily than most other waterfowl.

decoy British  

noun

1. a person or thing used to beguile or lead someone into danger; lure

2. military something designed to deceive an enemy or divert his attention

3. a bird or animal, or an image of one, used to lure game into a trap or within shooting range

4. an enclosed space or large trap, often with a wide funnelled entrance, into which game can be lured for capture

5. another word for deke

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verb

1. to lure or be lured by or as if by means of a decoy

2. (tr) another word for deke

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• decoyer
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has decoyed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have decoyed
  perfect
• decoys
  singular 3rd person
• decoying
  participle
• has been decoying
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are decoying
  progressive
• have been decoying
  perfect progressive
• is decoying
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am decoying
  progressive 1st person singular

Past

• had decoyed
  perfect
• had been decoying
  perfect progressive
• were decoying
  progressive plural
• decoyed
  participle
• was decoying
  progressive singular
• decoyed
  simple

Future

• will decoy
  simple
• will have decoyed
  perfect
• will have been decoying
  perfect progressive
• will be decoying
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of decoy

1610–20; variant of coy (now dial.) < Dutch ( de ) kooi (the) cage, Middle Dutch cōie < Latin cavea cage

Explanation

A decoy is a fake version of something used to play a trick or lead you into danger, like the cork duck decoys hunters put on the pond to make the real ducks think it's safe to stop by. Decoy most often refers to bait used for trapping or killing an animal, but it can be any object or plan used to lead someone or something into trouble. Fisherman use worm decoys on their lures to catch fish, just like police use people as undercover decoys to catch criminals. While etymologists aren't positive, they suspect decoy comes from the Dutch kooi, which means “a cage.” So think of luring a mouse into a cage with a big slice of decoy cheese.

Example Sentences

Nicknamed "the Bone", the aircraft has advanced radar and GPS systems to help hit targets, and electronic jammers, radar warnings and a decoy system to protect it from enemies.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

CS2 acts as a decoy, drawing alpha-synuclein away from ClpP and preventing it from harming the cell's energy systems.

From Science Daily • Jan. 20, 2026

Days before Gómez’s transfer in August, special forces left the prison in a convoy of armored vehicles headed to Mexico City as a decoy, passing through areas where Gómez commanded loyal underlings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 3, 2025

Several times he was used as a decoy, opening the door for receiver Harrison Carter to show his stuff.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 15, 2025

An enormous eagle-owl who was sometimes used as a decoy, but who was at present standing on a perch in the shade of the cloister, opened his eyes when the bells rang.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White