Hypocrisy

/hɪˈpɒkrəsi/

Meaning & Definition

noun
The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform; pretense.
His hypocrisy was evident when he criticized others for being dishonest while he himself was lying.
The state of pretending to be something one is not, or to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, that one does not actually possess.
The politician's hypocrisy was exposed when his actions contradicted his promises to the public.
Insincerity by virtue of pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not really have.
She accused him of hypocrisy after he condemned social media users while constantly using it himself.

Etymology

From French 'hypocrisie', from Latin 'hypocrisis', from Greek 'hypokrisis' meaning 'acting out, playing a part'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

political hypocrisy:
The practice where politicians advocate for certain policies while acting against them.
hypocrisy knows no bounds:
The idea that people will go to any lengths to hide their hypocrisy.
do as I say, not as I do:
A phrase describing the actions of someone who tells others to behave in a certain way while they do not follow their own advice.

Related Words

Slang Meanings

Phony
Stop being such a phony with your moral preaching; we all know you don’t follow your own rules.
Two-faced
He’s so two-faced; he pretends to support the team publicly but talks trash behind their back.