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.

In 2024, federal prosecutors accused the head of the firm that provided the AI tool, Joanna Smith-Griffin, of defrauding investors and charged her with securities fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

From Los Angeles Times

For example, he was defrauded and had to refinance his house after losing money.

From MarketWatch

For example, Bondi served as the lead attorney for billionaire Trevor Milton, who was convicted of defrauding investors in 2022, in a scheme in which Milton made misleading statements targeting “retail investors.”

From Salon

She added that the firm is “fully committed to pursuing our civil claims and bringing those that defrauded H.I.G. and its investors to justice.”

From The Wall Street Journal

He said the scam relied on using "a rather sophisticated device, which is adapted for the sole purpose of defrauding".

From BBC

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