Deception is the act of making someone believe something that is not true, usually to gain an advantage.
It comes from Latin “deceptio,” from “decipere,” meaning “to ensnare, cheat, mislead.” The noun form focuses on the act or result of misleading someone.
Deception isn’t just lying; it can be leaving out key facts, twisting context, or even staying silent at the right moment. That’s why it’s so hard to spot—nothing has to be technically false for someone to be deeply misled.
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