Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

hypocrisy

/hɪˈpɑkɹəsi/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.65 in modern English

Syllables
hypocrisy
IPA
/hɪˈpɑkɹəsi/
22
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
4
Syllables
8
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The contrivance of a false appearance of virtue or goodness, while concealing real character or inclinations, especially with respect to religious and moral beliefs; hence in general sense, dissimulation, pretence, sham.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The claim or pretense of having beliefs, standards, qualities, behaviours, virtues, motivations, etc. which one does not really have.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The practice of engaging in the same behaviour or activity for which one criticises another; moral self-contradiction whereby the behavior of one or more people belies their own claimed or implied possession of certain beliefs, standards or virtues.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

An instance of hypocrisy.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

From hypo- + Ancient Greek κρί(σις) (krí(sis)) + -isy. From Middle English ipocrisie, from Old French ypocrisie, from Late Latin hypocrisis, from Ancient Greek ὑπόκρισις (hupókrisis, “answer, stage acting, pretense”), from ὑποκρίνομαι (hupokrínomai, “I answer (a fellow actor on stage), play a part, dissemble, feign”), from ὑπό (hupó, “under, equivalent of the modern "hypo-" prefix”) + the middle voice of κρίνω (krínō, “I separate, judge, decide”) + -isy. Displaced native Old English līċettung.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /hɪˈpɑkɹəsi/
  • British English: /hɪˈpɒkɹəsi/

Usage

Inflected Forms

hypocrisies (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

hypocrite hypocritic hypocritical hypocritically

Synonyms

hypocriticality hypocriticalness lip service

Rhymes With

democracy bureaucracy aristocracy autocracy theocracy

Questions

How do you pronounce hypocrisy?
The recorded pronunciation is /hɪˈpɑkɹəsi/.
What does hypocrisy mean?
The contrivance of a false appearance of virtue or goodness, while concealing real character or inclinations, especially with respect to religious and moral beliefs; hence in general sense, dissimulation, pretence, sham.
Where does hypocrisy come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce hypocrisy

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