noun
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the act of deceiving or the state of being deceived
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something that deceives; trick
Usage
What does deception mean? Deception is the act or practice of deceiving—lying, misleading, or otherwise hiding or distorting the truth. The related word deceit often means the same thing. Deception doesn’t just involve lying. It can consist of misrepresenting or omitting the truth or more complicated cover-ups. Anything that involves intentionally misleading someone is deception. People can even engage in self-deception by avoiding the truth. The word deception often implies a pattern of behavior, rather than a one-time act. The adjective deceptive can describe something that deceives or is intended to deceive. A person who engages in deception can be described as deceitful. Less commonly, the word deception can refer to an action, scheme, or trick intended to deceive, as in It was a clever deception, but I didn’t fall for it. Example: I’m sick of your constant lying and deception—I can’t trust anything you say!
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of deception
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English decepcioun, from Old French, from Late Latin dēceptiōn-, stem of dēceptiō “deceitfulness,” from Latin dēcept(us) “deceived” (past participle of dēcipere; see deceive) + -iō -ion
Explanation
Deception is a trick or scheme used to get what you want, like the deception you used to get your sister to agree to do all your chores for a month. Deception occurs when you deceive, a word that comes from the Latin de- meaning "from" and capere, meaning "to take." When you deceive someone, the result may be taking — like items you don't really need from people willing to give them, believing they are helping you. You may have heard the phrase "take someone for a ride." That's a way of describing deception.
Vocabulary lists containing deception
A Web of Lies
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"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
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Smoke and Mirrors: The Lingo of Illusion and Deception
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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:
His film is a self-reflexive study of the inability to act as people expect — of masking and deception.
From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026
Slowly, the narrator is drawn into a web of deception and intrigue, unrest and perhaps even revolution.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
Nor should a survivor’s demeanor—including appearing detached, emotionless, or uncertain—automatically be interpreted as evidence of deception.
From Slate ● Oct. 2, 2026
These include failing to carry out "timely and thorough observations" of patients, then falsifying records "in the safe knowledge that staff on duty would not report or escalate the deception".
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
I hadn’t told Kim, either, so it wasn’t like Adam was getting special deception treatment.
From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman
Robert McDonald, a former high-ranking Secret Service agent with experience working on presidential security details, told the BBC that smaller-scale deceptions are used frequently during motorcade operations.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
As “Love Island” alumnus Rob Rausch frequently reminded us and himself, whatever deceptions he committed were all part of playing a game.
From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2026
Mild lies of omission are forgivable, while "sticky" mid-range deceptions can often be resolved with support and kindness.
From BBC ● Jan. 13, 2026
She also pointed out that, in addition to the DOJ lawyers’ deceptions, at least six witnesses for the government in this case were “unprepared or defiant in their refusal to answer questions,” including ICE officials.
From Slate ● Dec. 12, 2025
Faeries make up for their inability to lie with a panoply of deceptions and cruelties.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
