Duplicity

doo-PLIS-uh-tee (or dyoo-PLIS-uh-tee)

Definition

  1. (Noun) Deceptiveness in speech or conduct; acting in two different ways to different people.

Example

His duplicity became clear when we realized he had told each side a different version of the story.

Fun Fact

“Duplicity” comes from the Latin duplex, meaning “double”—a fitting root for someone who presents two faces to the world. The word is often associated with spies, politicians, and backstabbers in history and literature, proving that trust is a valuable (and fragile) commodity.

Previous Words

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Surreptitious

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