hypocrisy

noun

hy·​poc·​ri·​sy hi-ˈpä-krə-sē 

 also  hī-

plural hypocrisies

1

: a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not : behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel

His hypocrisy was finally revealed with the publication of his private letters.

especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion

our conventional morality often serves as a cover for hypocrisy and selfishness

—Lucius Garvin

2

: an act or instance of hypocrisy

a keen awareness of one's parents' hypocrisies

Synonyms

• cant
• dissembling
• dissimulation
• insincerity
• piousness

Examples of hypocrisy in a Sentence

When his private letters were made public, they revealed his hypocrisy.

the hypocrisy of people who say one thing but do another

Teenagers often have a keen awareness of their parents' hypocrisies.

Recent Examples on the Web

Beijing and Moscow have not hesitated to inflame the world’s resentment of America, emphasizing the United States’ purported hypocrisy for prioritizing Ukraine as conflicts rage elsewhere and for ignoring the high civilian casualties incurred in Israel’s war in Gaza. —Ivo H. Daalder, Foreign Affairs, 30 Jan. 2025

Homan, who is overseeing the policy, accused the Catholic leader of hypocrisy for supporting a wall around the Vatican while opposing the Trump administration's intention to control American borders. —Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025

But in an atmosphere where the gentle Peanuts was the cartoon hit of the day, there were no takers for his radical cartooning that satirized the neuroses and hypocrisies of society — until the Voice was launched. —Chris Koseluk, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Jan. 2025

Looking past this glaring, harmful hypocrisy was easier when Chappelle last hosted SNL in 2022. —Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 19 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ypocrisye, borrowed from Anglo-French ypocrisie, borrowed from Late Latin hypocrisis, ypocrisis, borrowed from Greek hypókrisis "playing a part on the stage, pretending to be something one is not," from hypokri-, variant stem of hypokrī́nomai, hypokrī́nesthai "to reply, make an answer, speak in dialogue, play a part on the stage, feign" (from hypo- hypo- + krī́nomai, middle voice of krī́nō, krī́nein "to separate, choose, decide, judge") + -sis, suffix forming nouns of action or process — more at certain entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

hypocrisy

noun

hy·​poc·​ri·​sy hip-ˈäk-rə-sē 

plural hypocrisies

: behavior that does not agree with what one claims to believe or feel

the hypocrisy of people who say one thing and do another