verb
dupe
joop
Dupe (verb) means to trick or deceive someone, usually to gain something from them. Example: “The scammer duped elderly victims out of their savings.”
verb
1
To trick or deceive someone, usually to gain something from them.
"The scammer duped elderly victims out of their savings."
"She realised too late that she'd been duped into signing a bad contract."
noun
1
A person who has been tricked or deceived.
"He was just a dupe in a much bigger fraud scheme."
2
A cheap imitation or knockoff of a genuine product.
"She found a makeup dupe for the expensive designer foundation."
How to use dupe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo con someone, a person who's been conned, or (in modern slang) a cheaper copy of a name-brand product.
Memory tip
The "cheap copycat product" sense is now very common online, especially in beauty and fashion contexts.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
dupe someone into
makeup dupe
fall for a dupe
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Word forms
- Plural
- dupes
- Third person singular
- dupes
- Past tense
- duped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The scammer _____ elderly victims out of their savings.
Etymology
From French duper, thought to come from an old term for the hoopoe bird, once considered a foolish-looking creature.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for dupe
See all rhymes for dupe →Frequently asked questions
What does “dupe” mean?
The word “dupe” means to trick or deceive someone, usually to gain something from them. In plain terms, to con someone, a person who's been conned, or (in modern slang) a cheaper copy of a name-brand product.
How do you pronounce “dupe”?
“Dupe” is pronounced joop (/duːp/ in IPA).
How do you use “dupe” in a sentence?
Here is “dupe” used in a sentence: “The scammer duped elderly victims out of their savings.”
What is another word for “dupe”?
Words with a similar meaning to “dupe” include chump, chumpion, cousin, cull, cully and dotterel.
What part of speech is “dupe”?
Depending on how it is used, “dupe” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “dupe” come from?
The word “dupe” comes from French. From French duper, thought to come from an old term for the hoopoe bird, once considered a foolish-looking creature.
How many meanings does “dupe” have?
“Dupe” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to trick or deceive someone, usually to gain something from them.
