duplicity

American  

[doo-plis-i-tee, dyoo-] / duˈplɪs ɪ ti, dyu- /

noun

plural

duplicities

1. deceitfulness in speech or conduct, as by speaking or acting in two different ways to different people concerning the same matter; double-dealing.

   Synonyms:

   trickery, hypocrisy, guile, fraud, dissimulation, deception, deceit

   Antonyms:

   straightforwardness, honesty, directness, candidness

2. an act or instance of such deceitfulness.

3. Law. the act or fact of including two or more offenses in one count, or charge, as part of an indictment, thus violating the requirement that each count contain only a single offense.

4. the state or quality of having two elements or parts; being twofold or double.

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duplicity British  

/ djuːˈplɪsɪtɪ /

noun

1. deception; double-dealing

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Usage

What does duplicity mean? Duplicity is the practice of intentionally misleading people, especially by saying different things to different people or acting in different ways at different times. Close synonyms are deceit and deception. A more informal synonym is double-dealing (which can also be used as an adjective). Duplicity can also refer to the quality of someone or something that misleads in this way or to an instance of deception. People who are liars engage in duplicity. The word is based on the idea of presenting two or more different versions of oneself or of a situation. Fittingly, people who use duplicity are often accused of being two-faced or of “speaking out of both sides of their mouth.” This typically means that they say different things to different people (in other words, they lie) in order to serve their agenda. In a legal context, duplicity is used in a more specific way to refer to the inclusion of two offenses in one charge, which in many places is a violation of the legal process (in which each offense should be counted separately). Less commonly, duplicity can refer to the state or quality of having two elements or parts. This sense of duplicity does not have the same negative implication as the primary sense of the word. The adjective form of duplicity is duplicitous. Example: There is clearly no shame in his duplicity—he says one thing and then turns around and says the complete opposite, barely trying to conceal the lie.

Related Words

Duplicity, deceit, guile, hypocrisy, fraud, trickery refer either to practices designed to mislead or to the qualities that produce those practices. Duplicity is the form of deceitfulness that leads one to give two impressions, either or both of which may be false: the duplicity of a spy working for two governments. Deceit is the quality that prompts intentional concealment or perversion of truth for the purpose of misleading: honest and without deceit. The quality of guile leads to craftiness in the use of deceit: using guile and trickery to attain one's ends. Hypocrisy is the pretense of possessing qualities of sincerity, goodness, devotion, etc.: It was sheer hypocrisy for him to go to church. Fraud refers usually to the practice of subtle deceit or duplicity by which one may derive benefit at another's expense: an advertiser convicted of fraud. Trickery is the quality that leads to the use of tricks and habitual deception: notorious for his trickery in business deals.

Pop Culture

—“The Duplicity of Hargraves”: A short story by O. Henry, first published in 1902. — Duplicity: A 2009 spy flick starring Julia Roberts and Clive Owen.

Other Word Forms

• duplicitous adjective
• nonduplicity noun

Etymology

Origin of duplicity

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English duplicite, from Middle French duplicitė́, from Late Latin duplicitāt-, stem of duplicitās “doubleness”; duplex, -ity

Explanation

Though he said he didn't know anything about the footprints in the new sidewalk, his duplicity, or deceitfulness, was obvious from the cement caking his shoes. His mouth said one thing, his feet said another. Many words with "du" have meanings with "two" or "duo." Duplicity is from a Latin word meaning "twofold, having two parts." Someone who shows duplicity is two-faced — maybe showing one side in public and another in private — or is just a liar, saying something known to be untrue or misleading. A fraud uses duplicity to gain something with false promises, and someone described as "fake" might use duplicity just to fit in or be accepted.

Example Sentences

In the resulting civil war, he showed a characteristic combination of ruthlessness, duplicity and skill.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

But although the spin-off was a hit with viewers, the return to a civilian series allows more duplicity and arguably better gameplay, as the contestants' anonymity allows them to come in with more secrets.

From BBC • Dec. 31, 2025

In itself, this duplicity won’t get in the way of Erika Kirk’s rise.

From Salon • Sep. 24, 2025

Finally, in August, Peters’ duplicity caught up with her.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 8, 2024

“Now, listen, my boy,” Neylan rejoined, launching into a two-hour monologue about the history of the oath, the duplicity of Robert Sproul, and the faculty’s disrespect for the board of regents.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• artifice
• chicanery
• deceit
• dishonesty
• falsehood
• hypocrisy