Meaning of deceive In English

• 0 to persuade someone that something false is the truth, or to keep the truth hidden from someone for your own advantage:

  • The company deceived customers by selling old computers as new ones.

  • The sound of the door closing deceived me into thinking they had gone out.

  • She thinks he'll come back, but she's deceiving herself.

• 1 to persuade someone that something false is the truth; trick or fool:

  • Some parents try to deceive school officials and enroll their children in other districts.

  • We should not deceive ourselves into thinking this will be the end of it.

• 2 to use dishonest or illegal methods to get something or to make people believe that something is true when it is not:

  • These were fraudulent transactions aimed at deceiving creditors and investors.

  • intention/intent to deceive A spokesman for the bank maintained that there had been no intent to deceive.

• 3 to seem better than it actually is:

  • The FTSE-100 flattered to deceive, as it broke through the 5000 barrier only to fall back again.