Synonyms

defraud

American

[dih-frawd] / dɪˈfrɔd /

verb (used with object)

to deprive of a right, money, or property by fraud.

Dishonest employees defrauded the firm of millions of dollars.

Synonyms:

cheat , rook , rip off , fleece , swindle , bilk

defraud British

/ dɪˈfrɔːd, ˌdiːfrɔːˈdeɪʃən /

verb

(tr) to take away or withhold money, rights, property, etc, from (a person) by fraud; cheat; swindle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

defraudation noun
defrauder noun
defraudment noun
undefrauded adjective

Etymology

Origin of defraud

1325–75; Middle English defrauden < Old French defrauder < Latin dēfraudāre, equivalent to dē- de- + fraudāre to cheat; fraud

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mozambique and Switzerland brought criminal and civil proceedings, and in 2021 Credit Suisse paid $475 million to settle charges that it defrauded some investors in the debt deals.

From The Wall Street Journal

The intention is to defraud them out of their money.

From BBC

Michel was convicted in federal court in Washington, D.C., on all 10 counts he faced, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S., witness tampering and not registering his lobbying work on behalf of a foreign national.

From The Wall Street Journal

In 2012, the U.K. tax authority accused the company and Boyd-Bowman, as its finance director, of defrauding the state by underpaying taxes.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the days and weeks after the 2020 election, partisans across the country used lies and deceit to try to defraud the American people and steal the White House.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023