duplicity
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
Deliberate deceitfulness in behaviour or speech.
The state or quality of being two-faced, often involving hypocrisy or a contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Duplicity implies a more sophisticated, calculated, and often sustained form of deception than simple lying. It frequently carries connotations of betrayal and hidden agendas.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. The term is formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally strong negative connotations in both varieties, associated with treachery and untrustworthiness.
Frequency
Slightly more common in formal written contexts (legal, political, literary analysis) than in everyday speech in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Noun] + of + duplicityduplicity + in + [Noun/Verb-ing]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A web of duplicity”
- “To practise duplicity”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe fraudulent corporate behaviour or unethical negotiation tactics.
Academic
Common in literary criticism (analysing characters), political science, and ethics papers.
Everyday
Used in serious discussions about betrayal in relationships or dishonest public figures.
Technical
Less common; may appear in legal contexts describing fraud or misrepresentation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The agent was trained to duplicity his opponents, a skill frowned upon by the committee.
American English
- The consultant was accused of trying to duplicity the board during the merger talks.
adverb
British English
- He acted duplicitously, promising one thing to us and the opposite to them.
adjective
British English
- His duplicitous nature became apparent only after the contracts were signed.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I don't trust him; I think there is some duplicity in his offer.
- The politician's duplicity was exposed when a secret recording of his private meeting was leaked.
- The novel's antagonist is a master of duplicity, charming the public while orchestrating a campaign of terror behind the scenes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'duplicate' (two) and 'complicity' (involvement in wrongdoing). Duplicity is being of 'two minds' or having a double, hidden agenda.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECEPTION IS A MASK / DECEPTION IS A LAYERED SURFACE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'duplication' (дублирование).
- The closest direct translation is 'двуличность', but 'duplicity' is more formal and implies active deceit, not just inconsistency.
- Avoid using it as a simple synonym for 'lie' (ложь).
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'duplicity' with 'duplication'.
- Using it to describe a single, spontaneous lie rather than a sustained pattern of double-dealing.
- Misspelling as 'duplicity' (correct) versus 'duplicity' (incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario BEST illustrates 'duplicity'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. While lying is an act, duplicity is a sustained state or quality of being deceitful, often involving a double life or hidden agenda. A liar tells lies; a duplicitous person lives a lie.
Hypocrisy is professing beliefs or virtues one does not hold. Duplicity is the active practice of deception. A hypocrite may be inconsistent; a duplicitous person is deliberately deceitful. They often overlap.
Extremely rarely. Its connotations are almost universally negative, relating to betrayal and dishonesty. In espionage contexts, it might be described neutrally as a 'skill', but the word itself carries a negative judgement.
'Duplicitous' is the standard and far more common adjective form. 'Duplicitous' is a very rare, non-standard variant.
Collections
Part of a collection
High-Level Idiomatic Expressions
C2 · 45 words · Sophisticated idiomatic and nuanced vocabulary.