n.
Pronunciation: di- ' sep-sh ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English decepcioun, from Anglo-French deception, from Late Latin deception-, deceptio, from Latin decipere to deceive
Date: 15th century
1 a : the act of deceiving b : the fact or condition of being deceived
2 : something that deceives : TRICK <a clever deception >
– de · cep · tion · al \ -sh ə -n ə l \ adjective
synonyms DECEPTION , FRAUD , DOUBLE-DEALING , SUBTERFUGE , TRICKERY mean the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives. DECEPTION may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource <magicians are masters of deception >. FRAUD always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice <indicted for fraud >. DOUBLE-DEALING suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude <a go-between suspected of double-dealing >. SUBTERFUGE suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end <obtained the papers by subterfuge >. TRICKERY implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat <resorted to trickery to gain their ends>.