Is duplicity formal or informal?

It is formal and common in academic and IELTS writing.

What's the difference between duplicity and lying?

It focuses on deceit with a false show of honesty, unlike plain lying.

How do I use duplicity in a sentence?

Use it to describe hidden motives or betrayal of trust in speeches or essays.

Is duplicity a common word?

It is a fairly common word in higher-level English.

← Dictionary

duplicity

/djuːˈplɪsəti/

IELTSAcademic

noun

The quality of having two different moral or practical standards; deceitfulness or double-dealing, often with an outward show of honesty.

His duplicity shocked the team.
She hid her duplicity with a calm smile.

Adinary Nuance

Near-neighbors: duplicity differs from honesty and sincerity by implying intentional deceit with a false show of virtue, whereas fraud stresses illegal cheating and hypocrisy stresses saying one thing but doing another. Choose duplicity when the focus is a split between outer appearance and hidden manipulation.

In other languages

Spanish: Doble cara o engaño
Japanese: 二面性、偽り
Korean: 표면과 뒤의 모습의 배반
Vietnamese: Mặt hai giá, sự gian dối
Chinese: 两面派, 虚伪

Etymology

Not selected as the primary nuance lens for this entry.

Common phrases

duplicity of purposeutter duplicityknown duplicityduplicity in politics

Synonyms

deceit hypocrisy double-dealing dissimulation two-faced

Frequently asked questions

Is duplicity formal or informal?: It is formal and common in academic and IELTS writing.
What's the difference between duplicity and lying?: It focuses on deceit with a false show of honesty, unlike plain lying.
How do I use duplicity in a sentence?: Use it to describe hidden motives or betrayal of trust in speeches or essays.
Is duplicity a common word?: It is a fairly common word in higher-level English.