duplicity

noun

du·​plic·​i·​ty du̇-ˈpli-sə-tē 

 also  dyu̇-

plural duplicities

1

: contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action

the simplicity and openness of their lives brought out for him the duplicity that lay at the bottom of ours

—Mary Austin

especially : the belying of one's true intentions by deceptive words or action

2

: the quality or state of being double or twofold

3

law : the technically incorrect use of two or more distinct items (such as claims, charges, or defenses) in a single legal action

Did you know?

We’ve all probably dealt with someone who acted a little two-faced—they said one thing and did another, for example, or they talked “from both sides of their mouth.” If such behavior has made you do a double take or left you feeling double-crossed, you may be single-minded in your quest to learn more about duplicity. Duplicity comes from a long line of “double” talk, starting with its Latin ancestor duplex, which means “double” or “twofold.” Duplex is also the source of the English word duplex (which can be a noun meaning “a two-family house” or an adjective meaning “double”), and it is the root of another term for doubling it up, duplicate.

Did you know?

The Double Nature of Duplicity and Duplicitous

The idea of doubleness is at the core of duplicity and duplicitous. Duplicity is the older of the pair; it comes from a Latin word meaning "double" or "twofold," and its original meaning in English has to do with a kind of deception in which you intentionally hide your true feelings or intentions behind false words or actions. If you are being duplicitous there are two yous: the one you're showing and the one you're hiding. And—key to the idea of duplicity—you're hiding the hidden you in order to make people believe something that's not true.

The word is found in many works of literature, including the Bible:

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
— Proverbs 11:3 (New International Version)

Even when he sat opposite me in the kitchen, talking, he would turn his head a little toward the clock or the stove and look at me from the side, but with frankness and good nature. This trick did not suggest duplicity or secretiveness ...
— Willa Cather, My Antonia, 1918

Arch read it at breakfast the day it came out and again that night. He admired its art but was most affected, and in fact discomfited, by its unblinking inventory of self-seeking and duplicity.
— Tobias Wolff, Old School, 2003

Synonyms

• artifice
• cheating
• cozenage
• craft
• craftiness
• crookedness
• crookery
• cunning
• cunningness
• deceit
• deceitfulness
• deception
• deceptiveness
• dishonesty
• dissembling
• dissimulation
• double-dealing
• dupery
• fakery
• foxiness
• fraud
• guile
• guilefulness
• wiliness

Examples of duplicity in a Sentence

He exposed the spy's duplicity.

we were lucky not to be taken in by his duplicity

Recent Examples on the Web

Newly aware of his subordinate’s duplicity, Masa charges at Yuki from his seat among his look-alikes in the audience. —Chris Klimek, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2024

The right-wing press, though, which had sung the praises of Reuss’ performance a few days earlier, now saw confirmation of characteristic Jewish duplicity and demanded that the government charge Reuss with fraud. —Tomas Weber, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024

Finally, in August, Peters’ duplicity caught up with her. —Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024

Indeed, despite Pakistan’s duplicity, Washington has continued to be one of its army’s strongest patrons. —Aaron B. O'Connell, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle English duplicite, from Middle French, from Late Latin duplicitat-, duplicitas, from Latin duplex

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

duplicity

noun

du·​plic·​i·​ty d(y)u̇-ˈplis-ət-ē 

plural duplicities

: deception by pretending to feel and act one way while feeling and acting another

Legal Definition

duplicity

noun

du·​plic·​i·​ty dü-ˈpli-sə-tē, dyü- 

plural duplicities

1

: the use of deceptive words or actions

2

: the use of more than one claim, allegation, or defense in a single paragraph of a pleading

especially : the improper charging of more than one offense in one count in a charging instrument (as an indictment) compare misjoinder, multiplicity

Etymology

Late Latin duplicitat- duplicitas duality, double-dealing, from Latin duplex twofold