deceive
dih-SEEV
Deceive (verb) means to trick or mislead someone into believing something false. Example: “He deceived investors by hiding the company's true losses.”
verb
1
To trick or mislead someone into believing something false.
"He deceived investors by hiding the company's true losses."
"Don't let his charming smile deceive you — he's not to be trusted."
"It feels painful to begin seeing clearly, that you’ve been deceived by the very people and institutions you trusted to guide you."
How to use deceive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make someone believe something untrue, usually on purpose.
Common mistake
Remember the spelling rule "i before e except after c" — deceive has the c, so it's "ei," not "ie."
Common pairings
deceive someone
deceive the public
be deceived by appearances
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- deceives
- Past tense
- deceived
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ investors by hiding the company's true losses.
Etymology
From Latin decipere, "to catch, ensnare, cheat" — from de- + capere, "to seize" (the same root gives us "capture" and "captive").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
undeceive
Related words
Rhymes for deceive
See all rhymes for deceive →Frequently asked questions
What does “deceive” mean?
The word “deceive” means to trick or mislead someone into believing something false. In plain terms, to make someone believe something untrue, usually on purpose.
How do you pronounce “deceive”?
“Deceive” is pronounced dih-SEEV (/dɪˈsiːv/ in IPA).
How do you use “deceive” in a sentence?
Here is “deceive” used in a sentence: “He deceived investors by hiding the company's true losses.”
What part of speech is “deceive”?
“Deceive” is a verb.
Where does the word “deceive” come from?
The word “deceive” comes from Latin. From Latin decipere, "to catch, ensnare, cheat" — from de- + capere, "to seize" (the same root gives us "capture" and "captive").
Is “deceive” a common word?
“Deceive” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
