fraud

fraud — noun

1. the crime of lying or hiding the truth in order to take money, property, or othe

1.名詞B2
釋義

the crime of lying or hiding the truth in order to take money, property, or other valuables from someone

例句

Eliska was arrested for credit card fraud after using a fake identity to open accounts.

collocation: credit card fraud

The company owner faces tax fraud charges for hiding millions in profits from the government.

collocation: tax fraud

同義詞
  • deception

    a broader term that covers any act of making someone believe something false, not necessarily illegal or for financial gain

  • scam

    a specific dishonest plan or scheme, often targeting individuals; more informal than fraud

  • trickery

    the use of tricks to deceive; often less serious and not always a crime

反義詞
  • honesty

    the quality of being truthful and not deceiving others

文法句型

fraud (uncountable for the general crime)

a fraud (countable for a specific scheme)

用法筆記

Uncountable when referring to the general crime ('convicted of fraud'), but countable for a specific scheme ('it was a massive fraud'). Frequently used in compounds naming types of fraud: credit card fraud, tax fraud, benefit fraud, wire fraud.

常見錯誤

❌The politician committed fraud by breaking his campaign promise.
✅The politician committed fraud by secretly using campaign donations for personal travel.
💡Fraud requires deliberate deception for financial or personal gain, not just breaking a promise.

2. a person who intentionally claims to have skills, knowledge, or a social status

2.名詞B2
釋義

a person who intentionally claims to have skills, knowledge, or a social status that is not actually theirs, in order to gain money or the trust of others

例句

The man pretending to be a doctor was exposed as a fraud before treating patients.

Amani warned her neighbor the man claiming to be a bank inspector was a fraud.

collocation: a fraud (countable for a deceptive person)

同義詞
  • impostor

    more specific — someone who pretends to be another person; fraud is broader and can mean anyone who lies about their abilities or status

  • fake

    more informal; can refer to either a person or an object

  • charlatan

    someone who pretends to have special knowledge or skill, especially in medicine or finance; more formal and literary

反義詞

文法句型

a fraud (countable for a deceptive person)

用法筆記

Always a countable noun. Frequently appears as the object of exposure verbs: expose someone as a fraud, unmask a fraud, reveal someone to be a fraud.

常見錯誤

❌He is a fraud because he does not like the same music as his friends.
✅He is a fraud because he claims to be a qualified doctor but never went to medical school.
💡Calling someone a fraud requires evidence of intentional deception for personal gain, not just a difference in taste or opinion.

3. something that disappoints people because it does not deliver the high quality,

3.名詞C1
釋義

something that disappoints people because it does not deliver the high quality, usefulness, or benefit that was promised

例句

Customers complained the expensive skin cream was a fraud — it did nothing to remove wrinkles.

The so-called miracle machine that supposedly saved electricity was a fraud, according to consumer reports.

collocation: a fraud (countable for a disappointing thing)

同義詞
  • rip-off

    more informal; something that costs too much for what it offers

  • fake

    something that is not genuine or original; slightly narrower in meaning

  • disappointment

    softer and more general; does not imply deliberate misleading

反義詞

文法句型

a fraud (countable for a disappointing thing)

用法筆記

Often used in reviews, consumer reports, and opinion writing. Frequently preceded by 'a complete' or 'a total' to emphasize the degree of disappointment. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense does not involve a crime — it expresses strong disappointment about a product, service, or claim.

常見錯誤

❌My new phone battery died after three hours, so it is a fraud.
✅My new phone failed to last the ten hours advertised, so the battery life claim was a fraud.
💡Use 'fraud' for something that was explicitly promised but not delivered, not for any product with a defect.