Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

frame-up

American  
[freym-uhp] / ˈfreɪmˌʌp /

noun

Informal.
  1. a fraudulent incrimination of an innocent person.


frame-up British  

noun

  1. a conspiracy to incriminate someone on a false charge

  2. a plot to bring about a dishonest result, as in a contest

"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

Etymology

Origin of frame-up

1895–1900, frame + up, modeled on nominalizations of phrasal verbs, with up as perfective particle

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.

See Examples For:

"The police were highly selective in the way they collected evidence. In my opinion, Omar was framed. This was a quite elaborate frame-up," he said.

From BBC Feb. 16, 2026

“It sounds as though the frame-up of Mr. Gershkovich was the same as it was in Paul’s case.”

From Seattle Times Mar. 30, 2023

Golunov was arrested in a clumsy frame-up after his exposés of corruption among the Moscow elite made him too many enemies.

From The Guardian Jun. 20, 2019

Alternate explanations are propounded, including the possibility of an elaborate police frame-up.

From Los Angeles Times May 2, 2019

When the necessary politenesses were disposed of, the old man, very delicately, with all his tact and finesse, started on the frame-up.

From The Black Eagle Mystery by Geraldine Bonner

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training