tartuffe
C2/RareLiterary, Formal
Definition
Meaning
A hypocritical person, especially one who feigns high religious or moral principles.
A person who outwardly professes virtuous sentiments but acts contrary to them; a sanctimonious hypocrite. The term originates from the titular character of Molière's 1664 play.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is often capitalized ('Tartuffe') when referring specifically to Molière's character but lowercased ('tartuffe') when used as a common noun for a hypocrite. It carries a strong negative connotation and implies a calculated, deceptive performance of virtue.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically. It is equally rare and literary in both.
Connotations
Identical connotations of religious or moral hypocrisy.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both regions; primarily encountered in literary, theatrical, or academic contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
He was denounced as a tartuffe.They saw through the tartuffe's facade.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “play the Tartuffe”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used. Potentially in critiques of corporate social responsibility perceived as insincere.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, theatre studies, and discussions of hypocrisy in moral philosophy.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- He gave a tartuffian speech full of empty piety.
American English
- His tartuffian moralizing fooled no one.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The character in the play was a tartuffe who pretended to be very religious.
- Politicians who preach family values while engaging in scandal are often seen as modern-day tartuffes.
- The memoir unflinchingly exposed her father not as a pillar of the community but as a consummate tartuffe, whose philanthropy masked a lifetime of private cruelty.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Tart' (sharp/sour deception) + 'tough' (hard exterior) = A 'tart-tough' person pretending to be good.
Conceptual Metaphor
HYPOCRISY IS A PERFORMANCE / HYPOCRISY IS A MASK.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с "тартюфом" в кулинарии (tarte tatin, пирог). Это омофоны в русской адаптации, но значения разные.
- Ближайший русский эквивалент — "ханжа", "лицемер".
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'tartufe', 'tartouffe'.
- Using it to describe a simple liar rather than a specific type of virtuous pretender.
- Incorrect pronunciation stressing the first syllable (/ˈtɑːrtʊf/).
Practice
Quiz
The term 'tartuffe' originates from:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When referring specifically to Molière's character, it is conventionally capitalized ('Tartuffe'). When used as a common noun meaning a hypocrite, it is usually lowercased ('tartuffe').
The direct adjective is rare. The derived form 'tartuffian' (or less commonly 'tartufian') is used to describe hypocritical behaviour or a hypocritical person.
It is very rare and belongs to a literary or highly formal register. Most native speakers would understand it from context but are unlikely to use it spontaneously.
'Tartuffe' is a specific type of hypocrite, one who ostentatiously affects high religious or moral principles. All tartuffes are hypocrites, but not all hypocrites are tartuffes (e.g., someone lying about their qualifications is a hypocrite but not necessarily a tartuffe).