defraud

[dih-frawd]

verb (used with object)

1. 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

/ dɪˈfrɔːd, ˌdiːfrɔːˈdeɪʃən /

verb

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

Other Word Forms

• defraudation noun
• defraudment noun
• defrauder noun
• undefrauded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of defraud¹

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

Example Sentences

Michel was convicted in federal court in Washington, D.C., on all 10 counts he faced, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S., witness tampering and not registering his lobbying work on behalf of a foreign national.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In 2012, the U.K. tax authority accused the company and Boyd-Bowman, as its finance director, of defrauding the state by underpaying taxes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In the days and weeks after the 2020 election, partisans across the country used lies and deceit to try to defraud the American people and steal the White House.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In 2003, the company was found to have defrauded Medicare and had to pay $1.7 billion, then the largest fine in U.S. history.

Read more on Salon

She was arrested two years later on charges she defrauded the bank by misstating the amount of customers the startup had and was convicted in March.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• circumvent 
• con 
• deceive 
• dupe 
• embezzle 
• fleece 
• rob 
• swindle 
• victimize