hypocrisy

English

Etymology

From hypo- +‎ Ancient Greek κρί(σις) (krí(sis)) +‎ -isy. From Middle English ipocrisie, from Old French ypocrisie, from Late Latin hypocrisis, from Ancient Greek ὑπόκρισις (hupókrisis, “answer, stage acting, pretense”), from ὑποκρίνομαι (hupokrínomai, “I answer (a fellow actor on stage), play a part, dissemble, feign”), from ὑπό (hupó, “under, equivalent of the modern "hypo-" prefix”) + the middle voice of κρίνω (krínō, “I separate, judge, decide”) + -isy.

Displaced native Old English līċettung.

Pronunciation

Noun

hypocrisy (countable and uncountable, plural hypocrisies)

  1. The contrivance of a false appearance of virtue or goodness, while concealing real character or inclinations, especially with respect to religious and moral beliefs; hence in general sense, dissimulation, pretence, sham.
    political hypocrisy
    He condemned the hypocrisy of politicians who broke their own laws.
  2. The claim or pretense of having beliefs, standards, qualities, behaviours, virtues, motivations, etc. which one does not really have. [from early 13th c.]
    rank hypocrisy
    charge of hypocrisy
  3. The practice of engaging in the same behaviour or activity for which one criticises another; moral self-contradiction whereby the behavior of one or more people belies their own claimed or implied possession of certain beliefs, standards or virtues.
  4. An instance of hypocrisy.

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Further reading

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