hypocrite
Americannoun
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a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that they do not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.
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a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie their public statements.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of hypocrite
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English ipocrite from Old French, from Late Latin hypocrita, from Greek hypokritḗs “a stage actor,” hence “one who pretends to be what he is not,” equivalent to hypokrī(nesthai) ( see hypocrisy) + -tēs agent suffix
Explanation
A hypocrite preaches one thing, and does another. You're a hypocrite if you criticize other people for wearing fur, but pull out your big mink jacket as soon as it gets cold. The word hypocrite is rooted in the Greek word hypokrites, which means “stage actor, pretender, dissembler.” So think of a hypocrite as a person who pretends to be a certain way, but really acts and believes the total opposite. Hypocrites usually talk a big talk but fail to follow their own rules — like an outspoken vegetarian who secretly eats bacon.
Vocabulary lists containing hypocrite
The Hate U Give
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The Autobiography of Malcolm X
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"Thanksgiving: A Personal History"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While historians often portray Cromwell as “a hypocrite or a double-dealer,” here he’s a dexterous politician, a pragmatic and adaptable leader who “could ride two horses at once, while advancing three agendas.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026
In a July 4, 2013, email to Nikolic, Epstein wrote: “Bill risks going from richest man to biggest hypocrite, melinda a laughing stock, pledges will disappear as a result.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026
In 2018, after Parker offered condolences for Cattrall's brother's death, Cattrall responded on social media, calling Parker a "hypocrite" and stating, "You are not my family. You are not my friend."
From BBC • Mar. 10, 2025
Being a huge phony doesn't necessarily make you a bad person or a hypocrite; it means you’re just playing the game with hopes of making it to the next level.
From Salon • Jan. 20, 2025
“He was a liar and a hypocrite too.”
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
