the act or practice of deceiving; concealment or distortion of the truth for the purpose of misleading; duplicity; fraud; cheating: Once she exposed their deceit, no one ever trusted them again.
an act or device intended to deceive; trick; stratagem.
the quality of being deceitful; duplicity; falseness: a man full of deceit.
Origin of deceit
1225–75; Middle English deceite<Anglo-French, Old French, noun use of feminine of deceit, past participle of deceivre to deceive
The Washington Post’s examination of a private conservative gathering included numerous appeals from presenters to this alleged threat looming over the country, a threat manifested in fraud, deceit and civil unrest.
Five falsehoods spurring Republican concern about the election|Philip Bump|October 15, 2020|Washington Post
“I was truly appalled by the realization of the deceit involved,” Bradlee wrote.
The Bizarre Tale of Ben Bradlee, JFK, and the Master Spy|Will Rahn|October 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Just like a Law & Order episode, the Mississippi Senate race has featured felonies, courtroom drama, lies, and deceit.
New Bribery Claims In Mississippi Senate Race|Ben Jacobs|August 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For years now, deceit has been an institutional norm in facilities across the VA.
VA Scandal: How a General Lost Command|Jacob Siegel|May 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He lines his pockets when opportunities arise, and gets ahead of domestic rivals by craft and deceit.
‘300’ Is a Misleading, Muscle-Bound Travesty of Ancient History|James Romm|March 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But these two pillars of support for lethal injection have always been based on a form of deceit.
What Happens to the Death Penalty When Lethal Injection Isn’t Quick and Painless?|Andrew Cohen|January 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no deceit.
Westminster Sermons|Charles Kingsley
In the worst form, this appears as deceit; in the best, as tact.
Practical Suggestions for Mother and Housewife|Marion Mills Miller
Suspicion and deceit would undermine the greatest love that ever existed.
The Free Range|Francis William Sullivan
What could they have expected from Malvina's child but deceit, folly and disgrace?
The Ordeal of Elizabeth|Elizabeth Von Arnim
He has learnt nothing from it except a habit of evading it by deceit.
Fanny's First Play|George Bernard Shaw
British Dictionary definitions for deceit
deceit
/ (dɪˈsiːt) /
noun
the act or practice of deceiving
a statement, act, or device intended to mislead; fraud; trick
a tendency to deceive
Word Origin for deceit
C13: from Old French deceite, from deceivre to deceive