Duplicity
/duːˈplɪsəti/
nounC2
Definition
Duplicity is when a person acts in two different ways to hide the truth, often to deceive or trick others. It means showing one side but secretly having another plan or idea that is different or opposite.
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See It in Action
Dishonest behavior by pretending two different things
- •The politician was accused of duplicity when he promised one thing but did another.
- •Her duplicity was clear when she told two friends different stories.
- •The company’s duplicity in advertising misled many customers.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "duplicity" like "lie," but more complicated because it involves two opposite sides at the same time
- ✓Picture a mask that hides a face—someone looks friendly but secretly plans something bad
- ✓It's the feeling when you realize a friend said one thing to you but did something very different behind your back
- ✓Sounds like "doo-PLISS-uh-tee" → imagine two people playing "double" tricks on each other
- ✓Think of a spy in stories who pretends to be a friend but is actually working for the enemy
- ✓NOT like "mistake" (an accident)—duplicity is a deliberate trick or lie
- ✓NOT like "honesty" (telling the truth)—duplicity means hiding the truth with two faces or stories
Try Other Words
- •Deceit: tricking or lying to someone (Use when focusing on the act of lying or cheating)
- •Fraud: dishonest actions to get money or advantage (Use when the dishonesty involves stealing or cheating for gain)
- •Hypocrisy: pretending to have good qualities but acting differently (Use when someone says one thing but acts against it, especially about morals or beliefs)
Unboxing
- •Prefix "du-" means "two" or "double"
- •Root "plic" comes from Latin "plicare," meaning "to fold"
- •Suffix "-ity" turns the word into a noun meaning a quality or state
- •Origin: From Latin "duplicitas," meaning "doubleness" or "twofold"
- •Originally meant something folded twice, now means two-faced or double-dealing behavior
- •Used today to describe someone who hides their true thoughts by acting in two opposite ways
Reflect & Connect
•Can duplicity ever be useful or necessary, or is it always bad? Why?
•How can you protect yourself from people who show duplicity in daily life?
Fill in the blanks
1.The politician’s duplicity ___ many voters because he said one thing but did ___.
2.When someone shows duplicity, they often try to ___ their true intentions.
3.Unlike simple dishonesty, duplicity involves ___ different stories or actions at the same time.
4.Saying one thing but doing another is a clear example of ___.
5.People with duplicity usually ___ trust because they cannot be honest.
6.The company’s duplicity in advertising caused customers to feel ___ and ___.
7.To avoid being hurt by duplicity, it is important to watch for ___ between words and actions.