duplicity
pronunciation
How to pronounce duplicity in British English:
UK [dju:ˈplɪsəti]
How to pronounce duplicity in American English:
US [duˈplɪsəti]
-
- Noun:
- a fraudulent or duplicitous representation
- acting in bad faith; deception by pretending to entertain one set of intentions while acting under the influence of another
Word Origin
- duplicity (n.)
- early 15c., from Old French duplicite (13c.), from Late Latin duplicitatem (nominative duplicitas) "doubleness," in Medieval Latin "ambiguity," noun of quality from duplex (genitive duplicis) "twofold." The notion is of being "double" in one's conduct (compare Greek diploos "treacherous, double-minded," literally "twofold, double").
Example
- 1. Human-rights groups accuse chinese authorities of duplicity in such efforts to police the internet .
- 2. Hypocrisy and duplicity were as soviet as stale bread .
- 3. America and the others have suspected china of duplicity and of not doing enough to rein in its ally .
- 4. Time and again in negotiations over iran 's nuclear programme , america and its allies assumed iranian duplicity and insincerity .
- 5. In fact , you would be wrong : high-risk duplicity has long been the hallmark of pakistani foreign policy .