fraud
- deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.
- a particular instance of such deceit or trickery: mail fraud; election frauds.
- any deception, trickery, or humbug: That diet book is a fraud and a waste of time.
- a person who makes deceitful pretenses; sham; poseur.
Origin of fraud
Synonyms for fraud
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comSynonym study
Related Words for fraud
scam, blackmail, hoax, deceit, misrepresentation, extortion, graft, duplicity, cheat, fake, sting, shakedown, artifice, racket, sell, imposture, double-dealing, string, song, chicaneryExamples from the Web for fraud
Contemporary Examples of fraud
Mahoney helped author the I-STOP legislation based on data his office collected in regard to fraud.
We are overwhelmed with data from every quarter, and our capacity to filter fact from fraud is limited.
Ortega has dismissed the allegations of autocracy and fraud that have afflicted his presidency as politically motivated.
The charges included corruption, perjury, bid-fixing and fraud.
Madonna, Carla Bruni & Obama Abandoned Pledges To Rebuild L'Aquila After The QuakeBarbie Latza Nadeau
November 18, 2014
There is wide consensus among attorneys that adoptive parents can vacate an adoption if acts of fraud were committed.
Historical Examples of fraud
"Then I can only say that Captain Rushton was a party to the fraud," he said.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
"I'll venture insurance is at the bottom of this fraud, Caradoc," hazarded Madden.
The Cruise of the Dry DockT. S. Stribling
When it is complicated by fraud or other crimes, it is the latter only which are concerned.
The Sexual QuestionAugust Forel
You mean it for the best; but I could not be party to a fraud.
Cleo The MagnificentLouis Zangwill
How was it you did not detect the fraud, if only by the voice?
A Nest of SpiesPierre Souvestre
fraud
- deliberate deception, trickery, or cheating intended to gain an advantage
- an act or instance of such deception
- something false or spurioushis explanation was a fraud
- informal a person who acts in a false or deceitful way
Word Origin for fraud
Word Origin and History for fraud
"criminal deception," early 14c., from Old French fraude "deception, fraud" (13c.), from Latin fraudem (nominative fraus) "deceit, injury." The noun meaning "impostor, humbug" is attested from 1850. Pious fraud "deception practiced for the sake of what is deemed a good purpose" is from 1560s.