fraud
gb/fɹˈɔd/ us/fɹˈɔd/
B2
English
~ 4500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
event
1
Illegal deception for gain
The crime of lying or cheating to get money or something valuable.
Usage pattern:
[someone] commits fraud
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'fraud' (the crime) with 'fraudster' (the person who commits it).
Synonyms
scam (Informal term for a dishonest scheme, often smaller in scale.)
|
deception (Broader term that can mean any act of misleading, not only for illegal gain.)
Antonyms
honesty (Represents truthfulness and fairness instead of deception.)
Collocations
commit fraud
|insurance fraud
|credit card fraud
|tax fraud
|fraud investigation
Themes
law
|crime
|business
|finance
Examples
- The company director was arrested for committing fraud.
- Credit card fraud has increased significantly in recent years.
- He was found guilty of tax fraud after a long investigation.
- The police uncovered a major insurance fraud scheme.
- Fraud cases are handled by the financial crimes unit.
Learner examples
- The man went to jail for fraud.
- Fraud is a serious crime.
- She lost her job because of fraud.
- Fraud can happen online.
- The police are looking for the person who did the fraud.
Noun
B2
entity
2
Deceptive or fake person
A person who lies about who they are to cheat or trick people.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a fraud
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse calling someone 'a fraud' with accusing them of committing the crime of fraud; the first can be literal or figurative.
Synonyms
impostor (Specifically someone pretending to be another person.)
|
phony (Informal word for someone fake or insincere.)
Antonyms
genuine person (Someone who is truly what they claim to be.)
Collocations
call someone a fraud
|turn out to be a fraud
|expose a fraud
Themes
relationships
|trust
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Many believed he was an expert, but he turned out to be a fraud.
- She called him a fraud after discovering his lies.
- The journalist exposed the famous doctor as a fraud.
- He felt like a fraud because he had no real experience.
- The so-called guru was nothing but a fraud.
Learner examples
- He is a fraud, not a real doctor.
- She found out her friend was a fraud.
- That man is a fraud and takes people's money.
- I think he is a fraud.
- The teacher was not real. He was a fraud.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fraud
IPA
GB/fɹˈɔd/
US/fɹˈɔd/
Syllables & stress
fraud (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (fraud)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: fraud
- Plural: fraud, frauds
Word family
Forms
frauds
noun
Core family
fraudulent
adjective C1
defraud
verb C1
Related words
fraudster
noun
fraudulently
adverb
Expressions
credit card fraud
1/kɹˈɛdɪt kˈɑɹd fɹˈɔd/
fixed phrase
Illegal use of credit card details
When someone uses another person's credit card details to steal money or buy things without permission.
Examples
- Credit card fraud is becoming more common with online shopping.
- The bank contacted her about possible credit card fraud on her account.
insurance fraud
1/ɪnʃˈʊɹəns fɹˈɔd/
fixed phrase
Lying for insurance money
When someone lies to an insurance company to get money they should not get.
Examples
- She was arrested for insurance fraud after faking an accident.
- Insurance fraud costs companies billions each year.
tax fraud
1/tˈæks fɹˈɔd/
fixed phrase
Lying to avoid paying taxes
When someone lies about their income or expenses so they don't have to pay the right amount of tax.
Examples
- He was charged with tax fraud after hiding millions in offshore accounts.
- Tax fraud can lead to heavy fines or prison time.
commit fraud
1/kəmˈɪt fɹˈɔd/
fixed phrase
Carry out fraudulent activities illegally
To cheat in order to get money or benefits illegally.
Examples
- The accountant was arrested for committing fraud.
- He was sent to prison for committing fraud.
- They committed fraud by faking documents.
- Anyone who commits fraud will face serious legal consequences.