definitions

hypocrisy

[ hi-pok-ruh-see ]
/ hɪˈpɒk rə si /
|

noun, plural hy·poc·ri·sies.

a pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess.
a pretense of having some desirable or publicly approved attitude.
an act or instance of hypocrisy.

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RELATED WORDS

fraud, deception, duplicity, mockery, bigotry, insincerity, deceit, dishonesty, double-dealing, lie, casuistry, sanctimoniousness, falsity, sanctimony, cant, pietism, quackery, speciousness, affectation, irreverence

Nearby words

hypocorism, hypocoristic, hypocorticoidism, hypocotyl, hypocrinism, hypocrisy, hypocrite, hypocritical, hypocrystalline, hypocupremia, hypocycloid

Origin of hypocrisy

1175–1225; Middle English ipocrisie < Old French < Late Latin hypocrisis < Greek hypókrisis play acting, equivalent to hypokrī́(nesthai) to play a part, explain (hypo- hypo- + krī́nein to distinguish, separate) + -sis -sis; h- (reintroduced in 16th century) < Latin and Greek
Related formshy·per·hy·poc·ri·sy, noun

Synonym study

1. See duplicity.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hypocrisies

British Dictionary definitions for hypocrisies

hypocrisy

/ (hɪˈpɒkrəsɪ) /

noun plural -sies

the practice of professing standards, beliefs, etc, contrary to one's real character or actual behaviour, esp the pretence of virtue and piety
an act or instance of this
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