deceit

1. (uncountable) The state of being deceitful or deceptive.Examples: "[T]he tvvo commended rules by him [Aristotle] ſet down, vvhereby the axioms of Sciences are precepted to be made convertible, and vvhich the latter men have not vvithout elegancy ſurnamed; the one the rule of truth, becauſe it preventeth deceipt; the other the rule of prudence, becauſe it freeth election, are the ſame thing in ſpeculation and affirmation, vvhich vve novv obſerve."; "His mouth is full of curſing, and deceit, and fraud : vnder his tongue is miſchiefe and vanitie."Synonyms: underhandedness, deceptiveness, deceitfulness, dissimulation, fraudulence, trickeryuncountable

2. (law) The tort or fraudulent representation of a material fact made with knowledge of its falsity, or recklessly, or without reasonable grounds for believing its truth and with intent to induce reliance on it; the plaintiff justifiably relies on the deception, to his injury.countableuncountable