hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is defined as saying or feeling one thing and doing another.

(noun)

An example of hypocrisy is writing a book about truth and honesty using made up stories to make your point.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See hypocrisy in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. hypocrisies

a pretending to be what one is not, or to feel what one does not feel; esp., a pretense of virtue, piety, etc.

Origin: ME ipocrisie < OFr < L hypocrisis, mimicry (in LL(Ec), pretended sanctity) < Gr hypokrisis, acting a part (in LXX and N.T., hypocrisy) < hypokrinesthai, to play a part < hypo-, hypo- + krinesthai, to dispute < krinein, to separate: see harvest

See hypocrisy in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. hy·poc·ri·sies
  1. The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.
  2. An act or instance of such falseness.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English ipocrisie

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Late Latin hypocrisis, play-acting, pretense

Origin: , from Greek hupokrisis

Origin: , from hupokrīnesthai, to play a part, pretend

Origin: : hupo-, hypo-

Origin: + krīnesthai, to explain

Origin: , middle voice of krīnein, to decide, judge; see krei- in Indo-European roots

.

Learn more about hypocrisy

link/cite print suggestion box