What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
artifice
Example
The magician amazed the audience with his artifice, making the coin disappear and reappear. [artifice: noun]
Example
She used artifice to convince her parents to let her go to the party. [artifice: noun]
deception
Example
He was skilled in the art of deception, fooling people with his convincing lies. [deception: noun]
Example
She felt betrayed by his deception, as he had been hiding the truth from her. [deception: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Deception is more commonly used than artifice in everyday language. Deception is a broader term that can be applied to various situations involving dishonesty or manipulation. Artifice, on the other hand, is less common and is often used in specific contexts such as magic tricks or creative endeavors.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between artifice and deception?
Both artifice and deception can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, artifice may be perceived as slightly more formal due to its association with specific fields or disciplines where clever strategies or techniques are employed.