hypocrite

[hip-uh-krit]

noun

1. a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that they do not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.

2. a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie their public statements.

hypocrite

/ ˈhɪpəkrɪt /

noun

1. a person who pretends to be what he is not

Other Word Forms

• hypocritical adjective
• superhypocrite noun
• hypocritically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypocrite¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English ipocrite from Old French, from Late Latin hypocrita, from Greek hypokritḗs “a stage actor,” hence “one who pretends to be what he is not,” equivalent to hypokrī(nesthai) ( hypocrisy ) + -tēs agent suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypocrite¹

C13: from Old French ipocrite, via Late Latin, from Greek hupokritēs one who plays a part, from hupokrinein to feign, from krinein to judge

Example Sentences

“He’s not a hypocrite saying one thing and doing another. He lives what he believes.”

Read more on Salon

He said he knew some climate advocates would disagree and call him a hypocrite because of his carbon footprint, which he said he fully offsets with "legitimate" carbon credits.

Read more on Barron's

She added: "Government has dishonoured every single Indian woman by allowing Taliban minister to exclude women journalists from presser. Shameful bunch of spineless hypocrites."

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“My kids were like: ‘You hypocrite!’ ” says Scott, 58, who lives in Los Altos, Calif., and is now the co-founder of an executive education firm.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Some of our friends like to say we should believe all women,” he said, before insisting that the “friends” he mentioned must be hypocrites because they don’t believe women who falsely claim vaccines cause autism.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• bigot 
• charlatan 
• crook 
• impostor 
• phony 
• trickster