Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

decoy

/ˈdiːkɔɪ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.04 in modern English

Syllables: de-coy
IPA: /ˈdiːkɔɪ/

11

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A person or object meant to lure somebody into danger.

noun

A real or fake animal used by hunters to lure game.

noun

Deceptive military device used to draw enemy attention or fire away from a more important target.

noun

An assembly of hooped or netted corridors into which wild ducks may be enticed (originally by tame ducks) and trapped.

verb

To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare; to entrap.

Transitive verb

verb

To act as, or use, a decoy.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"2002, Robotech: Battlecry – Guide and Walkthrough Just every 5 seconds or so shoot out a decoy near the Cats Eye and the enemies will aim for that instead of the Cats Eye."
"to decoy troops into an ambush; to decoy ducks into a net"
"E'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy, / The heart, distrusting, asks if this be joy."
"As they were being decoyed, the rescue team carried the hostage and quietly slipped away."

Etymology

From Dutch de + kooi, literally "the cage". Possibly related to verb coy (which itself may have been influenced by decoy).

Origin

Source language: Dutch

Word Breakdown

Root: -

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ˈdiːkɔɪ/

Usage

Inflected Forms

decoys (plural) decoys (present, singular) decoying (participle, present) decoyed (participle, past) decoyed (past)

Derived Forms

decoyman decoyable decoyer deke undecoyed

Phrases

decoy-duck decoy effect duck decoy red herring

Frequently Paired Words

correspondent counterpart dependent fake imitate lie substitute red herring

Synonyms

body double decoy red herring bait lure steerer

Rhymes With

boy enjoy joy destroy illinois toy roy employ troy oi deploy soy

Questions

How do you pronounce decoy?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈdiːkɔɪ/.
What does decoy mean?: A person or object meant to lure somebody into danger.
Where does decoy come from?: It is traced to Dutch.

How to pronounce decoy

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “decoy”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈdiːkɔɪ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “decoy”.
Repeat and practice — Say “decoy” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.