fraud — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The crime of stealing or otherwise illegally obtaining money by use of deception tactics.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   swindlescamdeceitgrift

2. Any act of deception carried out for the purpose of unfair, undeserved or unlawful gain.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   fiddle

   Examples

   When success a lover's toil attends, / Few ask, if fraud or force attain'd his ends.

   More examples (1)

   But electric vehicles and the batteries that made them run became ensnared in corporate scandals, fraud, and monopolistic corruption that shook the confidence of the nation and inspired automotive upstarts.

3. The assumption of a false identity to such deceptive end.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

4. A person who performs any such trick.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   fakerfraudsterimpostertrickster

5. A trap or snare.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   to draw the proud King Ahab into fraud

Verb

1. To defraud.

   Usage

   • Obsolete
   • Transitive

   Related words

   embezzlementfalse advertisingfalse billingforgeryidentity theftpredatory lendingquackeryusurywhite-collar crime

Noun

1. intentional deception resulting in injury to another person

   Broader terms

   crimecriminal offensecriminal offencelaw-breaking

2. a person who makes deceitful pretenses

   Synonyms

   imposterimpostorpretenderfakefakershamshammerpseudopseudrole player

   Broader terms

   deceivercheatcheatertricksterbeguilerslicker

3. something intended to deceive; deliberate trickery intended to gain an advantage

   Synonyms

   fraudulenceduperyhoaxhumbugput-on

   Broader terms

   trickerychicanerychicaneguilewileshenanigan

4. the act of swindling by some fraudulent scheme

   Synonyms

   swindlecheatrig

   Examples

   that book is a fraud