duplicitous
doo-PLISS-ih-tuss
/djuːˈplɪs.ɪ.təs/
Deceitful in speech or conduct; presenting two different faces to different people.
Implies active double-dealing, deliberately acting one way to one group and another way to another.
The story behind the word. The word comes from Latin duplex, meaning 'two-fold' or 'folded twice'. In early English law, 'duplicity' described the offense of making a double or ambiguous plea in court to trick the judge. Over time, it evolved to describe anyone who presents one face to your front and another behind your back.
Word relationships
- deceitful: Deceitful is a broader term for lying, whereas duplicitous specifically highlights double-dealing and two-facedness.
- treacherous: Treacherous stresses betrayal of trust or hidden danger, whereas duplicitous emphasizes feigning two conflicting stances.
- candid: Candid means straightforward and frank without hiding intentions.
- honest: Honest means free of deceit and untruthfulness.
Commonly confused with
- duplicate: Duplicate means an exact copy, while duplicitous means deceitfully double-faced.
Word family
- duplicity (noun): Deceitfulness in speech or conduct; double-dealing.
- duplicitously (adverb): In a duplicitous or double-dealing manner.
Collocations
- duplicitous behavior
- duplicitous nature
- duplicitous politician
Idioms & expressions
- two-faced
- speak out of both sides of one's mouth
Example sentences
- "His duplicitous behavior during the merger negotiations left both board members and investors feeling betrayed." Corporate negotiations
Memory hook
DUPLICate + ITOUS = having DUPLICate faces or personalities to deceive people. Two faces, double-folded intentions.
When not to use
Do not use for simple forgetfulness or honest changes of opinion.
Fun facts
- In old legal jargon, duplicity was a technical defect where a lawyer tried to enter two distinct defenses at once.
Related words
Explore more words
duplicity, double-cross, dissemble, perfidy, equivocal, equivocate
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.