What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
deceit
Example
He was caught in a web of deceit after lying to his boss. [deceit: noun]
Example
She used deceitful tactics to win the election. [deceitful: adjective]
deception
Example
The magician's performance was full of deception and illusions. [deception: noun]
Example
He was skilled at deception, often fooling his opponents with clever tactics. [deception: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Deception is more commonly used than deceit in everyday language. Deception is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while deceit is less common and tends to be used in more formal or literary contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between deceit and deception?
Deceit is generally considered more formal than deception, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
