First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
defraud
verb de·fraud \di-ˈfrȯd, dē-\
: to trick or cheat someone or something in order to get money : to use fraud in order to get money from a person, an organization, etc.
Full Definition of DEFRAUD
transitive verb
: to deprive of something by deception or fraud
— de·fraud·er \di-ˈfrȯ-dər\ noun
See defraud defined for English-language learners
See defraud defined for kids
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Origin of DEFRAUD
Middle English, from Anglo-French defrauder, from Latin defraudare, from de- + fraudare to cheat, from fraud-, fraus fraud
Related to DEFRAUD
- Synonyms
- beat, bilk, bleed, cheat, chisel, chouse, con, cozen, fleece, diddle, do, do in, euchre, fiddle, flimflam, gaff, gyp, hose [slang], hustle, mulct, nobble [British slang], pluck, ream, rip off, rook, screw, shake down, short, shortchange, skin, skunk, squeeze, stick, stiff, sting, sucker, swindle, thimblerig, victimize
Synonym Discussion of DEFRAUD
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>.
Other Legal Terms
DEFRAUD Defined for Kids
defraud
verb de·fraud \di-ˈfrȯd\
de·fraud·edde·fraud·ing
Definition of DEFRAUD for Kids
: to trick or cheat someone in order to get money <They were accused of defrauding customers.>
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