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Definition of hypocrite
hypocrite
/ˈhɪp.ə.krɪt/
hyp · o · crite
Adverb:hypocritically
•Plural:hypocrites
•Adjective:hypocritical
hypocrite Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
8
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
Syllables
3
hypocrite Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A person who professes high moral standards, beliefs, or virtues that they do not actually hold or practice in their own behavior.
Example
"The politician was labeled a hypocrite after campaigning on environmental conservation while investing heavily in coal."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for hypocrite• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed via Old French and Ecclesiastical Latin from Ancient Greek 'hypokrites', meaning a stage actor or pretender, from 'hypokrinesthai' (to play a part or interpret from underneath a theatrical mask).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hypocrite. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hypocrite