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Definition of hypocrisy noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

hypocrisy

noun
 
/hɪˈpɒkrəsi/
 
/hɪˈpɑːkrəsi/
(plural hypocrisies)
[uncountable, countable] (disapproving)
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  1. behaviour that does not meet the moral standards or match the opinions that somebody claims to have
    • He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another.
    • It’s hypocrisy for them to pretend that they were shocked at the news.
    Extra Examples
    • The play exposes the hypocrisy of the ruling elite.
    • She refused to conform to the usual practices and hypocrisies of high society.
    Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French ypocrisie, via ecclesiastical Latin, from Greek hupokrisis ‘acting of a theatrical part’, from hupokrinesthai ‘play a part, pretend’, from hupo ‘under’ + krinein ‘decide, judge’.
See hypocrisy in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
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