defraud
gb/dɪfɹˈɔd/ us/dɪfɹˈɔd/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
legal
C1
action
1
cheat someone out of money
To trick someone or an organization in order to get money or something valuable from them illegally.
Usage pattern:
defraud [someone/an organization] of [money/property/rights]; defraud [someone/an organization]
Common mistake:
Use the pattern “defraud someone of something,” not “defraud something from someone.”
Synonyms
swindle (often slightly less formal, focusing on tricking someone out of money)
|
cheat (more general and less legal; can involve unfair behavior, not only financial deception)
|
scam (informal; often used for modern fraud schemes, especially online or by phone)
|
deceive (broader; means to make someone believe something false, not necessarily to obtain money)
Antonyms
reimburse (means to pay back money owed, the opposite direction of taking money dishonestly)
|
compensate (means to give payment for loss or damage rather than causing loss by deception)
Collocations
defraud investors
|defraud customers
|defraud taxpayers
|defraud the government
|defraud an insurance company
|defraud someone of money
|defraud someone of their savings
|conspiracy to defraud
|attempt to defraud
|accused of defrauding
Themes
crime
|law
|money
|business
Examples
- The company was accused of defrauding investors of millions of dollars.
- She used fake invoices to defraud the charity over several years.
- Prosecutors said the scheme was designed to defraud the government.
Learner examples
- He defrauded customers by selling products that did not exist.
- They were arrested for trying to defraud a bank.
Grammar
Dictionary form
defraud
IPA
GB/dɪfɹˈɔd/
US/dɪfɹˈɔd/
Syllables & stress
de - fraud (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fraud)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: defraud
- 3rd Person Singular: defrauds
- Present Participle: defrauding
- Past: defrauded
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.