fraud

UK: /ˈfrɔːd/ US: /frɔd/ ,(frôd)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fraud /frɔd/   n. 

1. trickery carried out for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage:
   [uncountable] mail fraud.
2. something that is not what it pretends:
   [countable] That charity is a fraud.
3. [countable] a deceitful person;
   impostor.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fraud  (frôd), n. 

1. deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.
2. a particular instance of such deceit or trickery:
   mail fraud; election frauds.
3. any deception, trickery, or humbug:
   That diet book is a fraud and a waste of time.
4. a person who makes deceitful pretenses;
   sham;
   poseur.

• Medieval Latin fraud- (stem of fraus) deceit, injury
• Old French
• Middle English fraude 1300–50

fraud′ful, adj. 
fraud′ful•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. See deceit. 
• 3. wile, hoax.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fraud / frɔːd/ noun

1. deliberate deception, trickery, or cheating intended to gain an advantage
2. an act or instance of such deception
3. a person who acts in a false or deceitful way

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French fraude, from Latin fraus deception