defraud

verb

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

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 noun
Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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.
In the indictment Friday, prosecutors claimed that Hunsicker defrauded investors in CaaStle and Brendan Hoffman’s fashion investment platform P180 out of more than $300 million. Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025 All four people faced charges of conspiracy to defraud the federal government, along with two counts related to improper disposal of government property. ArsTechnica, 14 July 2025 According to the 2023 federal indictment, Moore and his co-defendants faced up to 35 years in prison on charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to convert government property, and aiding and abetting those efforts. Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025 In 2023, Moore and three co-defendants were charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to convert, sell, convey, and dispose of government property; and the conversion, sale, conveyance, and disposal of government property and aiding and abetting. David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 12 July 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Defraud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defraud. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

defraud

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

Legal Definition

defraud

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

More from Merriam-Webster on defraud

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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