Deception

/dɪˈsɛpʃən/

Meaning & Definition

noun

the act of deceiving or misleading someone.

The magician's trick was a brilliant deception that left the audience in awe.

a statement or action intended to deceive.

Her smile was a deception; she was actually very upset.

the quality of being deceitful or dishonest.

Deception can lead to a breakdown of trust in any relationship.

a scheme or tactic used to mislead.

The con artist used various forms of deception to trick his victims.

From Latin 'deceptio', from 'decipere', meaning 'to catch or ensnare'.

a deception of the senses

An illusion that misleads perception.

deception in the ranks

Dishonesty or betrayal among a group, often in a military or organizational context.

self-deception

The act of deceiving oneself, often regarding one's own character or situation.

deceive

To cause someone to believe something that is not true.

deceitful

Characterized by the intention to deceive.

misrepresentation

The action or offense of giving a false or misleading account of something.

Con job

That guy pulled a real con job on his investors.

Smoke and mirrors

The deal sounded great, but it was just smoke and mirrors.