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hypocrisy

[ hi-pok-ruh-see ]
/ hɪˈpɒk rə si /
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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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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

synonym study for hypocrisy

1. See duplicity.

OTHER WORDS FROM hypocrisy

hy·per·hy·poc·ri·sy, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hypocrisy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hypocrisy

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
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