defraud
Americanverb (used with object)
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defrauds,
present (3rd person singular)
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defrauded,
past participle, past
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defrauding
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
defraudsimple
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defraudssimple
-
have defraudedperfect
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has defraudedperfect
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am defraudingprogressive
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are defraudingprogressive
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is defraudingprogressive
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have been defraudingperfect progressive
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has been defraudingperfect progressive
Past
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defraudedsimple
-
had defraudedperfect
-
was defraudingprogressive
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were defraudingprogressive
-
had been defraudingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of defraud
1325–75; Middle English defrauden < Old French defrauder < Latin dēfraudāre, equivalent to dē- de- + fraudāre to cheat; see fraud
Explanation
To defraud is to con someone out of money. Defrauding is a sneaky crime. If you know that a fraud is some kind of a scam, then you're on the way to understanding what defraud means. If someone defrauds you, they are cheating you out of money. Ponzi schemes—also known as pyramid schemes—are a type of defrauding. A guy trying to sell you a bridge is a type of defrauding, as is a foreign prince asking for money via email. Be wary!
Vocabulary lists containing defraud
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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.
See Examples For:
In 2022, an Atlanta court found the “Chrisley Knows Best” couple guilty on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax fraud.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026
But the jury absolved Musk of “engaging in a scheme to defraud Twitter investors.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026
“This diminished capacity will send bad actors the message that there will not be enough cops on the beat if they attempt to defraud or exploit our commodity and derivative markets,” Schiff says.
From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026
There seemed to be a real hunger for some sense of justice for Cook, who did not defraud anyone.
From Slate ● Jan. 21, 2026
If this is done knowingly and with intent to defraud, this is an illegal con game.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
Garner Food Co. defrauds customers with its name and lone star logo on the iconic brand.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2022
White-collar crime undermines the rule of law, defrauds victims, and disrupts the marketplace.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2018
If a senator, Cabinet secretary, or federal judge assaults or defrauds another citizen in violation of state law, he or she cannot claim immunity based on occupation of a federal office.
From Slate ● Jul. 25, 2017
“If a large brokerage firm defrauds you, at least they have the money to pay you back,” said Brian Smiley, an Atlanta- based securities lawyer.
From BusinessWeek ● Jul. 6, 2011
He defrauds himself, his family, the community in which he dwells; for all these have an interest in that property.
From Twelve Causes of Dishonesty by Henry Ward Beecher
The plot reportedly came to light when authorities launched an investigation when a man claimed he had been defrauded by a man falsely presenting himself as a judge.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
He also barred Bush, who defrauded nearly 200 families out of £500,000, from being a company director for 14 years.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
But when older Americans are defrauded, they tend to lose more money — much more.
From MarketWatch ● May 22, 2026
The Justice Department alleges that the civil-rights organization, which targets extremist groups, defrauded donors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
Then she knew a moment of anger and wanted to shout at them because she felt they had cheated her out of her dream, defrauded her.
From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry
Three Late Stage Management executives pleaded guilty in March to charges of defrauding investors through hidden markups and fees.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Griffiths, 52, who is from Malvern in Worcestershire, previously pleaded guilty to defrauding Joanne of £4,500 and Helen of £10,178.42.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
An Orange County real estate investor accused of criminally defrauding an Arizona bank of nearly $100 million pleaded not guilty Monday and remains in custody.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
Exiled Chinese entrepreneur Guo Wengui, convicted of defrauding thousands of people of more than $1 billion, was sentenced Monday to 30 years in prison by a federal court in New York, US media reported.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
But you see, in spite of his loud talk, when Beechy came slam up against the proposition of defrauding his government, ungrateful government that he thought it, there was nothing doing.
From The Trail of Conflict by Emilie Baker Loring
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
