Hypocrisy
noun
Definition
Pretending to have beliefs or standards you don’t actually follow
Context Alive
A manager kept lecturing the team about punctuality and respect for everyone’s time. But one morning, someone pointed out the hypocrisy in his words — he was always the last one to show up and never apologized for making others wait.
Meanings
1 meaning 1 Pretending to Have Beliefs or Standards You Don't Actually Follow (Noun) — VERY COMMON Common ▼
This meaning is about saying one thing but doing the opposite — claiming you believe something or have certain values, but your actions tell a completely different story. Imagine a parent who constantly tells their kids that lying is wrong, but the kids notice the hypocrisy when that same parent lies to avoid a phone call, making excuses right in front of them. This is hypocrisy. It is the gap between what people say and what they do. You might call out the hypocrisy of a politician who campaigns against corruption but accepts secret donations, or someone could point out the hypocrisy of a friend who judges others for gossiping but does it all the time themselves. Or picture a coworker who always talks about teamwork and helping each other, but when someone actually needs help, the hypocrisy becomes obvious because they always have an excuse to say no. The word carries a strong sense of dishonesty and frustration. ✏️ “Hypocrisy” is always negative — nobody uses it as a compliment. When people say “the hypocrisy of it all” or “sheer hypocrisy,” they’re expressing real anger or disbelief at how fake someone is being.
Vivid ExampleA fitness influencer kept posting about clean eating and a healthy lifestyle. But when a fan spotted her secretly eating fast food, the internet exploded over the hypocrisy, pointing out that her whole brand was built on rules she didn’t even follow herself.
Examples from the Street
“He preaches about honesty but lies all the time — the hypocrisy is unbelievable.”
He talks about telling the truth but constantly deceives — the double standards are incredible
“It’s pure hypocrisy to criticise others for something you do yourself.”
It’s completely two-faced to attack people for behaviour you’re guilty of too
“The hypocrisy of politicians never ceases to amaze me.”
The gap between what government figures say and what they actually do is endlessly shocking
Common Patterns
the hypocrisy of (someone/something) → the double standards shown by a person or group
pure/sheer/utter hypocrisy → emphasising complete double standards
political/religious/moral hypocrisy → double standards in specific contexts
accuse someone of hypocrisy → charge someone with being two-faced
expose/reveal hypocrisy → uncover someone’s double standards
stink/reek of hypocrisy → be obviously and offensively hypocritical (informal)
the height/pinnacle of hypocrisy → an extreme example of double standards
can’t stand/tolerate the hypocrisy → find double standards unbearable
call out the hypocrisy → publicly challenge someone’s double standards
hypocrisy at its finest/worst → sarcastic comment on blatant double standards
Collocations
3 collocationssheer hypocrisy
total pretence of beliefs you don't hold
accuse of hypocrisy
claim someone says one thing and does another
political hypocrisy
politicians acting against their stated beliefs
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
The hypocrisy of telling your kids not to use their phones while you’re glued to yours is staggering
The double standards of instructing your children to put their devices away while you’re constantly staring at your own screen is incredible.
2
It’s pure hypocrisy for him to lecture us about saving money when he drives a sports car
It’s completely two-faced of him to preach about cutting expenses when he owns an expensive vehicle.
3
The journalist exposed the hypocrisy of the charity’s CEO, who was earning millions
The reporter revealed the double standards of the non-profit’s leader, who was taking home a fortune.
4
Voters are tired of political hypocrisy — they want politicians who practise what they preach
The electorate is fed up with governmental double standards — they want leaders who live by their own words.
5
She accused him of hypocrisy for criticising her lifestyle while living exactly the same way
She charged him with being two-faced for attacking her choices while making identical ones himself.
6
The policy reeks of hypocrisy — the government is doing the opposite of what it promised
The regulation stinks of double standards — the administration is acting contrary to its own pledges.
7
It’s the height of hypocrisy to preach about the environment while flying by private jet
It’s the ultimate example of double standards to talk about protecting the planet while travelling on a personal aircraft.
8
Social media is full of people calling out the hypocrisy of celebrities and corporations
Online platforms are packed with individuals publicly challenging the double standards of famous people and big businesses.
9
I can’t stand the hypocrisy — he tells everyone to be kind and then treats waiters terribly
I can’t tolerate the double standards — he advises others to be nice and then behaves appallingly towards serving staff.
10
Banning the public from the park while officials hold parties there? Hypocrisy at its finest
Closing the green space to ordinary people while senior figures host celebrations there? The most blatant example of double standards imaginable.
Learner Examples
★
It’s hypocrisy for teachers to demand punctuality from students while regularly arriving late themselves
It’s completely two-faced for instructors to insist pupils turn up on time when they frequently show up after the bell themselves.
★
Students quickly spot the hypocrisy if a school promotes respect but allows bullying to go unchallenged
Pupils immediately notice the double standards when an institution talks about dignity but lets intimidation continue without action.
Synonyms & Antonyms
7 items
Synonymsdouble standards
applying different rules to yourself
insincerity
not being genuine
pretense
pretending to be something you're not
two-facedness
being different behind people's backs
Antonymssincerity
being genuine and honest
integrity
having strong moral principles
honesty
being truthful