fraud

[ frawd ]
/ frɔd /

noun

deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.
a particular instance of such deceit or trickery: mail fraud; election frauds.
any deception, trickery, or humbug: That diet book is a fraud and a waste of time.
a person who makes deceitful pretenses; sham; poseur.

Origin of fraud

1300–50; Middle English fraude < Old French < Medieval Latin fraud- (stem of fraus) deceit, injury

synonym study for fraud

1. See duplicity.

OTHER WORDS FROM fraud

fraud·ful, adjective fraud·ful·ly, adverb an·ti·fraud, adjective pre·fraud, noun

Example sentences from the Web for fraud

British Dictionary definitions for fraud

fraud
/ (frɔːd) /

noun

deliberate deception, trickery, or cheating intended to gain an advantage
an act or instance of such deception
something false or spurious his explanation was a fraud
informal a person who acts in a false or deceitful way

Word Origin for fraud

C14: from Old French fraude, from Latin fraus deception