deceit
Deceit (noun) means the act of deliberately misleading someone; a trick or lie meant to fool someone. Example: “He got the promotion through flattery and deceit.”
How to Use Deceit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDishonesty aimed at tricking someone — lying, misleading, or scheming.
Don't confuse with "deceipt" (not a word) or with "conceit" (excessive pride), which looks and sounds similar but means something completely different.
Word Forms
deceits plural
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He got the promotion through flattery and _____.
Etymology
From Old French deceite, from decevoir ("to deceive"), ultimately from Latin decipere, "to catch out, cheat."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for deceit
See all rhymes for deceit →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “deceit” mean?
The word “deceit” means the act of deliberately misleading someone; a trick or lie meant to fool someone. In plain terms, dishonesty aimed at tricking someone — lying, misleading, or scheming.
How do you pronounce “deceit”?
“Deceit” is pronounced dih-SEET (/dɪˈsiːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “deceit” in a sentence?
Here is “deceit” used in a sentence: “He got the promotion through flattery and deceit.”
What is another word for “deceit”?
Words with a similar meaning to “deceit” include deceitfulness, deceptiveness, dissimulation, duplicity, fraudulence and fraudulency.
What part of speech is “deceit”?
“Deceit” is a noun.
Where does the word “deceit” come from?
The word “deceit” comes from Latin. From Old French deceite, from decevoir ("to deceive"), ultimately from Latin decipere, "to catch out, cheat.".
Is “deceit” a common word?
“Deceit” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “deceit” have?
“Deceit” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of deliberately misleading someone; a trick or lie meant to fool someone.