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

How to use hypocrisy in a sentence

But for a man who delighted in exposing hypocrisies, his relationship to Communism was riddled with duplicity.
Brecht's Mercenary Mother Courage Turns 75|Katie Baker|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One of the great hypocrisies built into our standards of beauty is the idea that all women can be beautiful with the right effort.
The Trials of ‘Tammy’: Stop Policing Melissa McCarthy’s Body|Teo Bugbee|July 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She is an advocate for a frank and open dialogue, free from the stifling hypocrisies of political correctness.
Islam’s Civil War|John Avlon|September 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Pivot forward and you can see the hypocrisies that will be dragged out in the coming days.
Team Boehner’s Hypocrisy|John Avlon|July 26, 2011|DAILY BEAST

A longtime advocate of Israeli-Palestinian cooperation on the hypocrisies—and complexities—of the Gaza conflict.
Where Were the Protesters When Missiles Were Hitting Israel?|Benjamin Pogrund|January 9, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Very few faults of architecture are mistakes of honest choice: they are almost always hypocrisies.
The Stones of Venice, Volume I (of 3)|John Ruskin
These nave and threadbare "hypocrisies" of crowds are a commonplace mechanism of the unconscious.
The Behavior of Crowds|Everett Dean Martin
In this fashion the two ladies open their hearts, and contrive to read one another perfectly in their mutual hypocrisies.
Evan Harrington, Complete|George Meredith
And I want to say to you now—I am sorry from my heart for that, and the many other hypocrisies you know I have been guilty of.
Rutledge|Miriam Coles Harris
What prohibitions, what hypocrisies, what responsibilities, what sorrows!
Soliloquies in England|George Santayana

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

hypocrisy

Origin of hypocrisy

synonym study for hypocrisy

OTHER WORDS FROM hypocrisy

Words related to hypocrisy

How to use hypocrisy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hypocrisy