fraud

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'fraud' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an act of deception or dishonesty with the intent of gaining something illegally or dishonestly. For example, "The police were able to uncover a large fraud scheme involving the use of stolen credit cards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As the Italian senate was deciding to expel Berlusconi following his conviction for tax fraud, the man himself was addressing a rally of his supporters outside his home in Rome.

The Guardian - Opinion

Government figures estimate benefit fraud due to identity theft at between £20-£50m £20-£50mm, a fraction of the LSE's low cost estimate for the scheme of £10bn.

The Guardian - Opinion

A Minnesota national guardsman faces federal fraud charges in connection with the theft of names, social security numbers and security clearance levels of roughly 400 members of his former army unit in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The Guardian

Abolished in cases of serious and complex fraud in 2003.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mote was suspended from Ukip in 2004, shortly after he was elected, when the party discovered he was facing separate charges for benefit fraud.

The Guardian

The Secret Service has a dual mission to protect the president and to police counterfeiting and financial fraud.

The Guardian

"That inquiry – conducted by two former judges and a senior accountant – found that Jack Warner had committed fraud and misappropriated the funds – in other words he had stolen the money from Concacaf … We asked Concacaf to give our money back because it wasn't used for the purpose we intended, and were advised by Fifa to wait until the inquiries were complete".

The Guardian - Sport

In its rebuttal, Barclays said: "Fundamentally, the complaint fails to identify any fraud – establishing no material misstatements, no identified victims, and no actual harm".

The Guardian - Business

In Britain it has always been legal to call yourself whatever you like (as long as you're not committing fraud), so it is hard to get a definitive figure.

The Guardian - Books

APC women's leader Victoria Nyeche told Agence France-Presse: "What happened today was unprecedented … All we want is a fresh election because what happened on Saturday was a fraud".

The Guardian

Sean Sullivan, a security analyst at F-Secure, said: "Smart cities can provide planning departments a lot of very value information for better city living – but it could also be a big vector for fraud unless properly secured.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "fraud", be specific about the type of fraud (e.g., tax fraud, securities fraud) to provide clarity and context.

Common error

Avoid using "fraud" loosely. Ensure the situation meets the legal definition, which requires intent to deceive and resulting harm.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fraud" is as a noun, referring to an act of deception or an instance of dishonest behavior. Ludwig examples show it modifying other nouns, such as in 'tax fraud' or 'benefit fraud'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

16%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "fraud" is a frequently used noun that describes acts of deception, particularly those aimed at financial gain. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. Analysis of numerous examples reveals its prevalence in news reporting, formal business contexts, and even scientific discussions. Related terms include ""deception"", ""swindle"", and ""scam"", each with slightly different connotations. When discussing "fraud", it's essential to be specific and accurate, especially considering its legal implications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deception

Focuses on the act of misleading someone, a core element of fraud.

swindle

Implies a deliberate act of cheating someone out of money or possessions.

scam

Refers to a dishonest scheme, often involving trickery and deceit.

embezzlement

Specifically involves the misappropriation of funds or assets by someone in a position of trust.

trickery

Highlights the use of cunning or deceptive methods.

imposture

Emphasizes the act of pretending to be someone else in order to deceive.

dishonest scheme

A broader term encompassing various types of deceitful plans.

criminal deception

Highlights the illegal nature of the deceptive act.

financial crime

Specifically refers to illegal activities related to money or assets.

breach of trust

Highlights the violation of a fiduciary duty for personal gain.

FAQs

How is "fraud" typically used in a sentence?

You can use "fraud" to describe an act of deception for financial gain, as in "He was charged with insurance fraud" or to label someone as deceptive, such as "He is a fraud".

What are some synonyms for "fraud" that I can use instead?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "deception", "swindle", or "scam".

What's the difference between "fraud" and "embezzlement"?

"Fraud" is a general term for deceit, while "embezzlement" specifically refers to the misappropriation of funds by someone in a position of trust.

In what contexts is the term "fraud" most frequently used?

The term "fraud" is commonly used in legal, financial, and news contexts when discussing deceptive or illegal activities aimed at gaining something of value.