Synonyms

defraud

American

[dih-frawd] / dɪˈfrɔd /

verb (used with object)

to deprive of a right, money, or property by fraud.

Dishonest employees defrauded the firm of millions of dollars.

Synonyms:

cheat, rook, rip off, fleece, swindle, bilk

defraud British

/ dɪˈfrɔːd, ˌdiːfrɔːˈdeɪʃən /

verb

(tr) to take away or withhold money, rights, property, etc, from (a person) by fraud; cheat; swindle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

defraudation noun
defrauder noun
defraudment noun
undefrauded adjective

Etymology

Origin of defraud

1325–75; Middle English defrauden < Old French defrauder < Latin dēfraudāre, equivalent to dē- de- + fraudāre to cheat; fraud

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.

An Orange County judge resigned Wednesday and declared his intent to plead guilty next week to defrauding a state fund out of thousands of dollars.

From Los Angeles Times

More than 90 defendants have been charged in schemes to defraud Minnesota’s various welfare programs.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Justice Department charged six new defendants in schemes to defraud Minnesota’s Medicaid program.

From The Wall Street Journal

There’s even evidence that in extreme cases, more people are defrauding insurance companies to try to get cheaper coverage.

From MarketWatch

In court, he said he had always run an honest business and did not intend to defraud his customers.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023