Pronunciation: /dɪˈsit/

Definitions of deceit

noun the action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth

Example Sentences

A1 She was shocked to discover the deceit of her best friend.

A2 The salesman's deceitful tactics were quickly exposed.

B1 The politician's deceit was uncovered by investigative journalists.

B2 The company's deceitful practices led to a major scandal.

C1 His deceit knew no bounds, as he manipulated everyone around him.

C2 The mastermind behind the elaborate deceit was finally apprehended by authorities.

Examples of deceit in a Sentence

formal The businessman was caught in a web of deceit after it was discovered he had been embezzling funds.

informal I can't believe she lied to her friend like that, what a deceitful move!

slang Don't trust him, he's full of deceit and will stab you in the back.

figurative The deceitful whispers of doubt clouded her judgement and led her astray.

Grammatical Forms of deceit

past tense

deceived

plural

deceits

comparative

more deceitful

superlative

most deceitful

present tense

deceives

future tense

will deceive

perfect tense

have deceived

continuous tense

is deceiving

singular

deceit

positive degree

deceitful

infinitive

to deceive

gerund

deceiving

participle

deceived

Origin and Evolution of deceit

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'deceit' originated from the Latin word 'decipere' which means 'to ensnare, deceive'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'deceit' has retained its original meaning of trickery or deception, but has also come to encompass broader concepts of dishonesty and falsehood.