fraud

American  

[frawd] / frɔd /

noun

1. deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.

2. a particular instance of such deceit or trickery.

   mail fraud; election frauds.

3. any deception, trickery, or humbug.

   That diet book is a fraud and a waste of time.

   Synonyms:

   hoax, wile

4. a person who makes deceitful pretenses; sham; poseur.

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fraud British  

/ frɔːd /

noun

1. deliberate deception, trickery, or cheating intended to gain an advantage

2. an act or instance of such deception

3. something false or spurious

   his explanation was a fraud

4. informal a person who acts in a false or deceitful way

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Related Words

See duplicity.

Other Word Forms

• antifraud adjective
• fraudful adjective
• fraudfully adverb
• prefraud noun

Etymology

Origin of fraud

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English fraude, from Old French, from Medieval Latin fraud-, stem of fraus “deceit, injury”

Example Sentences

Lang, a major figure in French socialist governments between the 1980s and 2000s, is being investigated for suspected "laundering of tax fraud proceeds".

From BBC

But he added that new laws extended the amount of time authorities had to uncover fraud cases.

From BBC

Dave focuses on the Justice Department, Securities and Exchange Commission and other law enforcement agencies that investigate white-collar crime and fraud.

From The Wall Street Journal

When Brazilian businessman Daniel Vorcaro was arrested last year over what may be the country's biggest ever banking fraud scandal, he boasted to police that he had friends in high places.

From Barron's

CBS News reported on the creation of a California-focused fraud task force earlier this week, citing multiple unnamed sources familiar with the plans.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blackmail
• deceit
• extortion
• graft
• hoax
• misrepresentation
• scam