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duplicity

noun/duˈplɪs.ɪ.ti/

definition

deceitfulness in speech or conduct especially by pretending to one’s beliefs or values

example

His duplicity was revealed when he was caught making contradictory statements about his business dealings.

synonyms
deceitdishonesty
word origin — Late Middle English: from Old French duplicite, from Latin duplicitas, from duplic-, meaning 'twofold'.

duplicity, feature, bias, penchant, heresy: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from TOEFL Vocabulary set 60. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. duplicity · noun/duˈplɪs.ɪ.ti/

    deceitfulness in speech or conduct especially by pretending to one’s beliefs or values

    His duplicity was revealed when he was caught making contradictory statements about his business dealings.

    Synonyms: deceit, dishonesty

    Origin: Late Middle English: from Old French duplicite, from Latin duplicitas, from duplic-, meaning 'twofold'.

  2. feature · noun/ˈfiː.tʃɚ/

    a characteristic or quality of something

    One notable feature of this smartphone is its long-lasting battery life.

    Synonyms: characteristic, trait, attribute

    Origin: Middle French 'feature' (fechure), from Latin 'factura' meaning 'a making, a doing'

  3. bias · noun/ˈbaɪəs/

    a tendency to favor one thing or person over another in a way that is unfair

    The study revealed a significant bias in the way participants interpreted the results, favoring the group's preferred outcome.

    Synonyms: prejudice, favoritism, inclination

    Origin: Middle French 'biais', meaning 'slant' or 'slope', from Old French 'biés', which derives from Latin 'bīnālis', meaning 'slanting'.

  4. penchant · noun/ˈpɛn.ʃənt/

    a strong inclination or liking for something

    She has a penchant for Italian cuisine, often experimenting with different pasta recipes.

    Synonyms: fondness, inclination, preference

    Origin: French, from 'penchant' meaning 'to incline' or 'to lean towards', derived from the verb 'pencher'.

  5. heresy · noun/ˈhɛrəsi/

    a belief or opinion that goes against established religious doctrine

    The scholar's radical ideas were considered heresy by the conservative religious community.

    Synonyms: dissent, unorthodoxy, blasphemy

    Origin: From Middle English 'heresye', from Old French 'éré sie', from Latin 'haeresis', from Greek 'hairesis' meaning 'choice, sect'.