hypocrisy
noun /hɪˈpɒkrəsi/
/hɪˈpɑːkrəsi/
(plural hypocrisies)
[uncountable, countable] (disapproving)- behaviour that does not meet the moral standards or match the opinions that somebody claims to have
- He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another.
- It’s hypocrisy for them to pretend that they were shocked at the news.
Extra Examples- The play exposes the hypocrisy of the ruling elite.
- She refused to conform to the usual practices and hypocrisies of high society.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French ypocrisie, via ecclesiastical Latin, from Greek hupokrisis ‘acting of a theatrical part’, from hupokrinesthai ‘play a part, pretend’, from hupo ‘under’ + krinein ‘decide, judge’.