Hypocrisy
/hɪˈpɒkrɪsi/
Definitions
The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or practice; insincerity.
/hɪˈpɒkrɪsi/
The practice of claiming to have higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case.
Her constant preaching about honesty was seen as hypocrisy, given her own history of deception.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone saying 'be kind to others,' but then being mean themselves. That's hypocrisy! It's like wearing a superhero costume while secretly doing bad things.
👶 For kids: When you say one thing but do the opposite, it's like you are pretending to be something you're not. It's called hypocrisy!
More Examples
The public condemned the company's hypocrisy for claiming environmental responsibility while polluting the river.
Accusations of hypocrisy often arise when public figures are caught contradicting their stated values.
How It's Used
"The politician was accused of hypocrisy when it was revealed he had investments in the very industry he was criticizing."
"The sermon was criticized for its hypocrisy, given the preacher's personal life."
Idioms & expressions
the height of hypocrisy
A particularly blatant or extreme example of hypocrisy.
"For the CEO to lecture his employees on ethical behavior after being caught in a tax evasion scheme was the height of hypocrisy."
practice what you preach
To do the things that you tell other people to do.
"The teacher told the students to be kind to each other, but she didn't practice what she preached."
From Late Latin *hypocrisis*, from Greek *hypokrisis* ('acting, pretense'), from *hypokrinomai* ('to play a part, pretend').
The word has been used since the 16th century and was often associated with religious contexts, referring to those who preached one thing but practiced another.
Memory tip
Think of a 'hypo' needle hiding real intentions. Hypocrisy is when actions don't match words.