dupe

¹ American  

[doop, dyoop] / dup, dyup /

noun

1. a person who is easily deceived or fooled; gull.

2. a person who unquestioningly or unwittingly serves a cause or another person.

   a dupe of the opponents.

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verb (used with object)

duped, duping

1. to make a dupe of; deceive; delude; trick.

dupe ² American  

[doop, dyoop] / dup, dyup /

noun

1. duplicate.

2. Movies.

   1. a duplicate picture negative used for making additional release prints or for making special effects to be inserted in the release negative.

   2. the procedure for producing such a duplicate.

3. Television. a duplicate videotape obtained by electronic printing of the original videotape.

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verb (used with or without object)

duped, duping

1. to duplicate.

adjective

1. duplicate.

dupe British  

/ djuːp /

noun

1. a person who is easily deceived

2. a person who unwittingly serves as the tool of another person or power

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verb

1. (tr) to deceive, esp by trickery; make a dupe or tool of; cheat; fool

Other Word Forms

• dupability
  noun
• dupable
  adjective
• duper
  noun
• dupery
  noun
• undupable
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of dupe¹

First recorded in 1675–85; from French; Middle French duppe for unattested tête d'uppe “head of hoopoe,” i.e., “fool” (compare tête de fou ), from unattested Vulgar Latin uppa, Latin upupa “hoopoe,” a bird thought to be especially stupid; cf. hoopoe

Origin of dupe²

First recorded in 1895–90; by shortening

Explanation

A dupe is a furry, ceremonial hat worn during ancient pagan rituals...or not. Dupe actually means “trick or deceive.” We’re sorry we tried to dupe you into believing the wrong definition. Dupe can also refer to the victim of a trick or hoax, and — used in this sense — it sometimes conveys the idea that the victim is easily fooled. Dupe comes from the French word for a type of bird called the hoopoe, which has an extravagant crest and a reputation for being dim-witted. (And no, that's not another attempt to dupe you; it's the truth!)

Example Sentences

Now Zahid Hasan Akhand, who introduced himself as a barrister, was talking him through the different options and how to dupe the Home Office.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

It took a hit this week after former executives accused it of manipulating markets to dupe consumers into buying its products.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 24, 2025

Her younger sister might be a candidate for a dupe version of a high-end coat, handbag or pair of sunglasses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025

His KGB contact, who believes him to be a double agent, raises the stakes by asking him for information on Faith—though she has encouraged Gabriel to accept Soviet payments to dupe the Russians.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025

“That is the most unforgiving speech,” said Elizabeth, “that I ever heard you utter. Good girl! It would vex me, indeed, to see you again the dupe of Miss Bingley’s pretended regard.”

From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

Related Words

• baffle
• bamboozle
• betray
• cheat
• deceive
• defraud
• delude
• hoodwink
• mislead
• swindle
• victimize