[de.cep.tion] n [ME decepcioun, fr. MF deception, fr. LL deception-, deceptio, fr. L decipere to deceive] (15c) 1 a: the act of deceiving b: the fact or condition of being deceived
2: something that deceives: trick -- de.cep.tion.al adj syn 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".