fraud

[ frawd ]

noun

1. deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.
2. a particular instance of such deceit or trickery:

   mail fraud; election frauds.

3. any deception, trickery, or humbug:

   That diet book is a fraud and a waste of time.

   Synonyms: hoax, wile

4. a person who makes deceitful pretenses; sham; poseur.

fraud

/ frɔːd /

noun

1. deliberate deception, trickery, or cheating intended to gain an advantage
2. an act or instance of such deception
3. something false or spurious

   his explanation was a fraud

4. informal.
   a person who acts in a false or deceitful way

Other Words From

• fraudful adjective
• fraudful·ly adverb
• anti·fraud adjective
• pre·fraud noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fraud¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English fraude, from Old French, from Medieval Latin fraud-, stem of fraus “deceit, injury”

Word History and Origins

Origin of fraud¹

C14: from Old French fraude , from Latin fraus deception

Synonym Study

See duplicity.

Example Sentences

Last year, Hindenburg Research, an activist short seller, accused the conglomerate of orchestrating “a brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud scheme.”

From New York Times

On Wednesday, the U.S. government charged Mr. Adani, one of the world’s richest people, with multiple counts of fraud.

From New York Times

Honest services fraud doesn’t extend to quid pro quo exchanges where the “quid” is a perceived reputational benefit, defense attorneys argued in filings.

From Los Angeles Times

Former Wall Street investor, Sung Kook "Bill" Hwang, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison in a massive fraud case that cost banks billions of dollars.

From BBC

She faces up to 30 years in federal prison for the bank fraud count and up to 15 years in federal prison for the identity theft count, according to the DOJ.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blackmail
• deceit
• extortion
• graft
• hoax
• misrepresentation
• scam