fraud

American  

[frawd] / frɔd /

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.

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fraud British  

/ 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

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Related Words

See duplicity.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of fraud

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

Example Sentences

Medicare fraud in Minnesota is only the latest example.

From The Wall Street Journal

This one comes on behalf of a former Colorado elections official serving a nine-year sentence for election fraud.

From Los Angeles Times

Then, a $14 billion fund managed by KKR reported heavy losses from loans gone wrong, and a rash of alleged frauds in companies such as the auto supplier First Brands spooked investors.

From The Wall Street Journal

A fugitive Olympic gold medallist boxer who was on the run after failing to appear in court for lottery fraud has been tracked down by police in Thailand and arrested.

From Barron's

He said while it isn’t clear how much of the $18 billion was fraud, “we know a significant amount was.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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