Hypocrite definition
A person who pretends to be what he or she is not; specif., one who pretends to be pious, virtuous, etc. without really being so.
noun
The definition of a hypocrite is a person who pretends to have certain beliefs, attitudes or feelings when they really do not.
An example of a hypocrite is a person who says they care about the environment, but are constantly littering.
noun
A person given to hypocrisy.
noun
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Other Word Forms
Noun
Singular:
hypocrite
Plural:
hypocritesOrigin of hypocrite
- Middle English ipocrite from Old French from Late Latin hypocrita from Greek hupokritēs actor from hupokrīnesthai to play a part, pretend hypocrisy
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Old French ypocrite (Modern French hypocrite), from Ecclesiastical Latin hypocrita, from Ancient Greek ὑποκριτής (hupokritēs, “actor, hypocrite”), from ὑποκρίνομαι (hupokrinomai, “I answer, act, feign”).
From Wiktionary