defraud
Americanverb (used with object)
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defrauds,
present (3rd person singular)
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defrauded,
past participle, past
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defrauding
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
defraudsimple
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defraudssimple
-
have defraudedperfect
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has defraudedperfect
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am defraudingprogressive
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are defraudingprogressive
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is defraudingprogressive
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have been defraudingperfect progressive
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has been defraudingperfect progressive
Past
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defraudedsimple
-
had defraudedperfect
-
was defraudingprogressive
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were defraudingprogressive
-
had been defraudingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of defraud
1325–75; Middle English defrauden < Old French defrauder < Latin dēfraudāre, equivalent to dē- de- + fraudāre to cheat; see fraud
Explanation
To defraud is to con someone out of money. Defrauding is a sneaky crime. If you know that a fraud is some kind of a scam, then you're on the way to understanding what defraud means. If someone defrauds you, they are cheating you out of money. Ponzi schemes—also known as pyramid schemes—are a type of defrauding. A guy trying to sell you a bridge is a type of defrauding, as is a foreign prince asking for money via email. Be wary!
Vocabulary lists containing defraud
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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.
See Examples For:
Unless you actually set out to defraud the insurer, the company may not cancel your coverage even if you made a mistake on your application.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 12, 2026
It said it fought against deceptive behaviour to scam or defraud people and businesses.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
Though the cases were not connected, officials said they adopted similar ways to defraud the medical system.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 2, 2026
In 2013, a woman referred to as Jane Doe opened an account at Bank of America at the direction of Epstein associates as part of a “plan to defraud immigration officials,” according to the lawsuit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026
Ned was unaware of the existence of these debts and believed the creditors were trying to defraud him—until they presented documents signed by the previous owner, H. H. Holmes.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Garner Food Co. defrauds customers with its name and lone star logo on the iconic brand.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2022
White-collar crime undermines the rule of law, defrauds victims, and disrupts the marketplace.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2018
If a senator, Cabinet secretary, or federal judge assaults or defrauds another citizen in violation of state law, he or she cannot claim immunity based on occupation of a federal office.
From Slate ● Jul. 25, 2017
“If a large brokerage firm defrauds you, at least they have the money to pay you back,” said Brian Smiley, an Atlanta- based securities lawyer.
From BusinessWeek ● Jul. 6, 2011
When a man "fails wi' a fu' hand," he defrauds his creditors with the assistance of the Bankruptcy Act.
From The Proverbs of Scotland by Alexander Hislop
At the time, prosecutors said he had defrauded about 28 victims and that the fraud totaled about $993,000.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026
The plot reportedly came to light when authorities launched an investigation when a man claimed he had been defrauded by a man falsely presenting himself as a judge.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
When an examiner estimated that these transfers may have defrauded Caesars of $5 billion, the original proposal crumbled and the disfavored creditors secured a far better deal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
A federal jury in Los Angeles found that Left defrauded other investors with insincere opinions designed to move stock prices in his favor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026
Then she knew a moment of anger and wanted to shout at them because she felt they had cheated her out of her dream, defrauded her.
From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry
In other countries in the world, where medication is available for everyone who needs it, defrauding the public with worthless remedies is curtailed if not made impossible.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 17, 2026
She rode the early 2000s wave of venture-capitalism consumer-tech hype, defrauding investors and the public with a bogus new way to test blood.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Plus: The founder of private-company investment firm charged with defrauding investors, and the U.S. says it’s fed up with China’s overcapacity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
Linqto founder William Sarris has been charged with defrauding investors by allegedly marking up the prices of pre-IPO shares.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
There were other counts, charging the defendant with defrauding other persons by the same means.
From Norfolk Annals A Chronological Record of Remarkable Events in the Nineteeth Century, Vol. 2 by Charles Mackie
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.
