deception
gb/dɪsˈɛpʃən/ us/dɪsˈɛpʃən/
B2
English
~ 8300
megtévesztés, becsapás, félrevezetés, átverés, csel, hazugság, önámítás, önbecsapás
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
deception of [someone] by [someone]
The company was fined for deception in its advertising.
A céget megbírságolták a reklámjaiban alkalmazott megtévesztés miatt.
She felt deeply hurt when she discovered the extent of his deception.
Nagyon megbántotta, amikor rájött, milyen mértékben csapta be őt a férfi.
Voters are tired of political deception and half-truths.
He used deception to get access to confidential documents.
Trust, once broken by deception, is difficult to rebuild.
Learner examples
The salesman used deception to sell the car.
Az eladó megtévesztéssel adta el az autót.
She could not forgive his deception.
Nem tudta megbocsátani neki, hogy becsapta őt.
They won the game by deception, not by skill.
The law tries to protect people from deception.
Deception can destroy a good friendship.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "deception" (the act of deceiving) with "disappointment" (a feeling when something is not as good as expected). They may also say *"make a deception"*; the natural phrases are "use deception" or "commit deception".
Meaning
the act of deceiving someone
Collocations
lying and deception
|practice of deception
|through deception
|act of deception
|political deception
|deception by omission
Synonyms
dishonesty (Broader term for not being truthful or fair; does not always focus on making someone believe something false, but often overlaps.)
Antonyms
honesty (Describes behavior in which a person is open and truthful and does not try to make others believe something false.)
Themes
ethics
|relationships
|law
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The act of making another person believe something that is not true, usually to help yourself or to avoid trouble.
The deliberate act of making someone believe something that is not true, especially in order to gain an advantage or avoid blame.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
a deception about [something]
The fake email was a simple deception to steal passwords.
A hamis e-mail egyszerű átverés volt, amellyel jelszavakat akartak ellopni.
Their romantic weekend was just a deception to get her away from home for the surprise party.
A romantikus hétvége csak csel volt, hogy elcsalják otthonról a meglepetésbuli kedvéért.
The magician's trick turned out to be a clever deception with mirrors.
Investigators finally uncovered the deception behind the charity’s fundraising.
He kept up the deception for years, pretending to be a qualified doctor.
Learner examples
The phone call was a deception to get her money.
A telefonhívás átverés volt, hogy pénzt csaljanak ki tőle.
The story about his past was a complete deception.
A múltjáról szóló történet teljes hazugság volt.
They created a deception so no one would know the secret.
The teacher quickly saw through the deception.
The movie shows a long deception inside the family.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "deception" when they mean "deceptive" or "deceiving" as adjectives, for example *"a deception ad"* instead of "a deceptive ad" or "a deceiving ad". "Deception" is a noun, not an adjective.
Meaning
a particular trick or lie
Collocations
an elaborate deception
|a clever deception
|a web of deception
|uncover the deception
|see through the deception
|maintain the deception
Synonyms
ruse (Often used for a clever, planned trick, especially to hide someone’s real purpose.)
Antonyms
truth (Refers to what is actually real or correct, as opposed to an invented story or trick.)
Themes
ethics
|crime
|daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A specific lie or trick that makes another person believe something that is not true.
A particular lie, trick, or plan that is used to make someone believe something that is not true.
NOUN
C1
3
önámítás
B2
önbecsapás
B2
Usage pattern:
deception about [one's] own feelings / situation
He finally admitted that his belief he could quit anytime was pure deception.
Végül beismerte, hogy puszta önámítás volt az a hite, hogy bármikor abba tudja hagyni.
Her optimism was less courage and more deception about how serious the problem really was.
Az optimizmusa nem annyira bátorság volt, inkább önámítás azzal kapcsolatban, hogy valójában mennyire súlyos a probléma.
Therapy helped him move past years of deception and face his real fears.
Sometimes love involves a small amount of deception about the other person’s flaws.
His diary shows a slow shift from deception to painful honesty.
Learner examples
She lived in deception and did not see her problem.
Önámításban élt, és nem látta a saját problémáját.
His hope was really deception; the project could not be saved.
A reménye valójában önámítás volt; a projektet már nem lehetett megmenteni.
The coach warned the players against deception about their skills.
Deception can stop you from changing your life.
Good friends can help you see your own deception.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "deception" always involves another person. In psychology or personal-growth contexts, it can also mean lying to yourself or refusing to see the truth about your own situation.
Meaning
deceiving yourself about reality
Collocations
self-deception
|emotional deception
|live in deception
|personal deception
Synonyms
self-deception (More specific fixed term; clearly states that the person is deceiving themselves, not others.)
Antonyms
self-awareness (Involves recognizing and accepting the truth about one’s own feelings, motives, and behavior, the opposite of hiding that truth from oneself.)
Themes
psychology
|emotions
|health
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When a person lies to themselves or chooses to believe something that is not true because the real truth is hard to accept.
The act or process of making yourself believe something that is not true, often because the truth is uncomfortable or painful.
Grammar
Dictionary form
deception
IPA
GB/dɪsˈɛpʃən/
US/dɪsˈɛpʃən/
Syllables & stress
de - cep - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cep)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: deception
- Plural: deception, deceptions
Word family
Expressions
a web of deception
1/ə wˈɛb əv dɪsˈɛpʃən/
idiom
many connected lies and tricks
Many lies and tricks that are all connected and used together to hide the truth.
Examples
- The investigation revealed a web of deception involving several senior managers.
- She found herself caught in a web of deception and didn’t know whom to trust.
- Over time his small lies grew into a web of deception that controlled his life.
deception and fraud
1/dɪsˈɛpʃən ˈænd fɹˈɔd/
fixed phrase
formal
dishonest and illegal cheating
Lies and illegal tricks used to cheat people, especially to get their money.
Examples
- The committee is investigating deception and fraud in the banking sector.
- He faces several charges, including deception and fraud.
- Consumer groups warn people about online deception and fraud.
deception by omission
1/dɪsˈɛpʃən bˈaɪ oʊmˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
misleading by leaving out truth
Making someone believe something that is not true by not telling them important information.
Examples
- Failing to mention the side effects was a clear case of deception by omission.
- The journalist argued that the government’s silence amounted to deception by omission.
- Some people see not correcting a false belief as deception by omission.
engage in deception
1/ɪŋɡˈeɪd͡ʒ ˈɪn dɪsˈɛpʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
take part in deceiving someone
To do things that make other people believe something that is not true.
Examples
- The company denied that it had engaged in deception of its customers.
- Anyone who engages in deception during the exam will be expelled.
- The report found that senior staff had engaged in deception for several years.
practice deception
1/pɹˈæktɪs dɪsˈɛpʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
regularly use deception
To often use lies or tricks to make other people believe things that are not true.
Examples
- Leaders who practice deception quickly lose the trust of their teams.
- He had practiced deception for so long that he no longer knew how to be honest.
- The court ruled that the company had practiced deception in its marketing.
self-deception
1/sˈɛlf dɪsˈɛpʃən/
fixed phrase
deceiving yourself about the truth
When you lie to yourself or choose to believe something that is not true, usually because the real truth is painful or difficult.
Examples
- He finally recognized his self-deception and admitted that the relationship was over.
- Self-deception can keep people stuck in unhealthy situations.
- The book explores how self-deception shapes our choices.
the art of deception
1/ðə ˈɑɹt əv dɪsˈɛpʃən/
fixed phrase
the skill of deceiving people
The special skill of making other people believe things that are not true.
Examples
- The film is a stylish look at the art of deception in high finance.
- Spies must master the art of deception to survive.
- Magicians rely on the art of deception to create wonder and surprise.
through deception
1/θɹˈu dɪsˈɛpʃən/
fixed phrase
by using lies or tricks
By using lies or tricks to make other people believe something that is not true.
Examples
- They gained access to the building through deception.
- The money was obtained through deception and must be returned.
- He rose to power through deception, not hard work.