defraud

verb

de·​fraud di-ˈfrȯd How to pronounce defraud (audio)
dē-
defrauded; defrauding; defrauds
Synonyms of defraud

transitive verb

: to deprive of something by deception or fraud
trying to defraud the public
Investors in the scheme were defrauded of their life savings.
defrauder
di-ˈfrȯ-dər How to pronounce defraud (audio)
dē-
noun

Synonyms of defraud

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cheat, cozen, defraud, swindle mean to get something by dishonesty or deception.

cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation.

cheated me out of a dollar

cozen implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose.

always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars

defraud stresses depriving one of his or her rights and usually connotes deliberate perversion of the truth.

defrauded of her inheritance by an unscrupulous lawyer

swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence.

swindled of their savings by con artists

Examples of defraud in a Sentence

They were accused of trying to defraud the public. They conspired to defraud the government. She was convicted of writing bad checks with intent to defraud.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The committee's work is separate from criminal investigations in which seven people and two companies, Will Power and Prestige, were charged with offenses including manslaughter and conspiracy to defraud over the fire. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 The Republican Party of Florida recently filed a lawsuit on his behalf, trying to stop Democratic TV ads that mentioned the grand jury report, which portrayed Uthmeier at the center of the scheme to defraud taxpayers for political purposes. — Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026 Those concerns are particularly acute with someone like Holmes, who was convicted of defrauding investors through an elaborate web of deception. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026 Holmes is serving an 11-year sentence for defrauding Theranos investors at a federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, roughly a two-hour drive from Austin. — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for defraud

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French defrauder, from Latin defraudare, from de- + fraudare to cheat, from fraud-, fraus fraud

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of defraud was in the 14th century

Rhymes for defraud

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Browse Nearby Words

defragmenter
defraud
defraudation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Defraud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defraud. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

defraud

verb
de·​fraud di-ˈfrȯd How to pronounce defraud (audio)
: to deprive of something by trickery, deception, or fraud
defrauder
di-ˈfrȯd-ər How to pronounce defraud (audio)
noun

Legal Definition

defraud

transitive verb
de·​fraud di-ˈfrȯd How to pronounce defraud (audio)
: to deprive of something by fraud
defrauder noun
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