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Definition of hypocrisy

hypocrisy

/hɪˈpɑː.krə.si/
hy · poc · ri · sy
Adverb:hypocritically
•
Plural:hypocrisies
•
Adjective:hypocritical
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hypocrisy Lexical Profile

hypocrisy Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; a false pretense of virtue or goodness.

Example

"Critics pointed out the hypocrisy of politicians who advocated for austerity while voting to increase their own salaries."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for hypocrisy
Antonyms
View all antonyms for hypocrisy

• Rhymes for hypocrisy

• Nearby Words

hypoallergenic
hypochondria
hypochondriac
hypocrisy
hypocrite
hypocritical
hypocritically

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed via Old French and Ecclesiastical Latin from the Ancient Greek 'hypokrisis', meaning 'acting on the stage' or 'pretense', from 'hypokrinesthai' ('to play a part').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hypocrisy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hypocrisy
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