WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
de•cep•tive /dɪˈsɛptɪv/USA pronunciation adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- relating to or marked by deceit:deceptive advertising, until you read the fine print.
de•cep•tive
(di sep′tiv),USA pronunciation adj.
de•cep′tive•ly, adv.
de•cep′tive•ness, n.
- apt or tending to deceive:The enemy's peaceful overtures may be deceptive.
- perceptually misleading:It looks like a curved line, but it's deceptive.
- Medieval Latin dēceptīvus, equivalent. to Latin dēcept(us) (see deception) + -īvus -ive
- 1605–15
de•cep′tive•ness, n.
- 1. delusive, fallacious, specious.
'deceptiveness' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):