fraud

[frawd]

noun

1. deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.

2. a particular instance of such deceit or trickery.

   mail fraud; election frauds.

3. any deception, trickery, or humbug.

   That diet book is a fraud and a waste of time.

   Synonyms: hoax, wile

4. a person who makes deceitful pretenses; sham; poseur.

fraud

/ frɔːd /

noun

1. deliberate deception, trickery, or cheating intended to gain an advantage

2. an act or instance of such deception

3. something false or spurious

   his explanation was a fraud

4. informal,  a person who acts in a false or deceitful way

Other Word Forms

• fraudful adjective
• fraudfully adverb
• antifraud adjective
• prefraud noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fraud¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English fraude, from Old French, from Medieval Latin fraud-, stem of fraus “deceit, injury”

Word History and Origins

Origin of fraud¹

C14: from Old French fraude , from Latin fraus deception

Synonym Study

See duplicity.

Example Sentences

Under the plea deal, prosecutors dropped other charges against Lira, including eight counts of wire fraud as well as two false statement charges.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They say they need to save taxpayers' money being spent on waste and fraud.

Read more on BBC

"There are crimes still being committed, fraud, and we've got evidence his benefits are being claimed."

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The president has argued it is a chance "to clear out dead wood, waste, and fraud. Billions of Dollars can be saved".

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Other senior officials opted to leave, including the bureau’s top fraud expert, cryptanalyst and skyjacking expert, and the head of its Crime Information Center.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• blackmail 
• deceit 
• extortion 
• graft 
• hoax 
• misrepresentation 
• scam