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

But it wasn't until one of his genuine suppliers started chasing him for payment that he realised he had been the victim of a sophisticated fraud.

From BBC

The statement added: "Revolut works hard and invests heavily to protect our customers as best we can through our fraud prevention technologies, analysing over half a billion transactions a month."

From BBC

Many of the scams are run by sophisticated international syndicates, said Kathy Stokes, director of fraud prevention at AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

From Los Angeles Times

Impersonating someone's bank is key to so many frauds, which is partly why Stop Scams UK set up a special number three years ago to connect victims of fraud direct with their bank.

From BBC

Reports have been made to a number of police forces in Wales and England, some of which have been passed on to Action Fraud, which co-ordinates fraud complaints from all regions.

From BBC

Related Words

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