Perfidy: meaning, definitions and examples

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perfidy

 

[ หˆpษ™หfษชdi ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

act of betrayal

Perfidy is the act of betraying someone or something, especially by breaking a promise or trust. It involves deceit and treachery, often resulting in harm or damage to the betrayed party.

Synonyms

betrayal, deceit, disloyalty, treachery.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
perfidy

Use when describing a severe breach of trust, often used in a literary or historical context.

  • The perfidy of the spy was revealed when he sold state secrets to the enemy
betrayal

Commonly used to describe the act of being disloyal or unfaithful, especially by someone trusted.

  • Her friend's betrayal hurt her deeply as she had confided in her with all her secrets
treachery

Often describes a serious and usually shocking act of betrayal, implying danger or harm.

  • The treachery of the general was exposed, leading to severe consequences for his actions
deceit

Used in situations where intentional dishonesty or trickery is involved.

  • His deceit was uncovered when his alibi turned out to be a fabrication
disloyalty

Refers to a lack of loyalty or faithfulness to someone or something.

  • His disloyalty was evident when he sided with the competitors against his own team

Examples of usage

  • He was shocked by the perfidy of his once trusted friend.
  • The perfidy of the company's CEO led to the downfall of the entire organization.
Context #2 | Noun

deceptive behavior

Perfidy can also refer to deceptive behavior or dishonesty, especially in a political or social context. It involves the deliberate violation of trust or faith.

Synonyms

betrayal, deception, dishonesty, treachery.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
perfidy

Used in formal or literary contexts to describe great treachery or betrayal of trust, typically involving breaking a promise or allegiance.

  • The knight's perfidy towards the king led to war
  • Their perfidy was revealed when they handed over secrets to the enemy
dishonesty

A straightforward term used to describe a lack of honesty or integrity, often in everyday contexts involving lies or deceit.

  • His dishonesty about his qualifications got him fired
  • The student's dishonesty was clear when they copied answers during the test
deception

Refers to the act of deceiving or misleading someone, which can occur in various contexts including personal, professional, and casual situations.

  • Her deception was uncovered when the truth came out
  • The company was fined for engaging in deception to sell faulty products
treachery

Emphasizes acts of betrayal and disloyalty, often used in formal or historical contexts. It implies a serious breach of trust.

  • The history books are filled with stories of treachery and deceit
  • Treachery among the ranks led to the downfall of the rebellion
betrayal

A general term often used in personal, emotional, or close relationships to describe an act of disloyalty or treachery.

  • She felt deep betrayal when she found out her best friend had been lying to her
  • His betrayal of their friendship was unforgettable

Examples of usage

  • The politician's perfidy was exposed during the corruption scandal.
  • His perfidy in business dealings earned him a reputation for untrustworthiness.

Translations

Translations of the word "perfidy" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น perfidia

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคตเคฟเคถเฅเคตเคพเคธเค˜เคพเคค

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Treulosigkeit

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ pengkhianatan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะทั€ะฐะดะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ perfidia

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ่ฃๅˆ‡ใ‚Š

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท perfidie

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ perfidia

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท hainlik

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฐฐ์‹ 

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฎูŠุงู†ุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ zrada

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ zrada

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่ƒŒๅ›

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ izdaja

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ svik

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัะฐั‚า›ั‹ะฝะดั‹า›

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฆแƒแƒšแƒแƒขแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ xษ™yanษ™t

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ perfidia

Etymology

The word 'perfidy' originated from the Latin word 'perfidia,' which means treachery or faithlessness. It has been used in English since the 16th century to describe acts of betrayal and deceit. The concept of perfidy has been a recurring theme in literature and history, illustrating the consequences of broken trust and deception.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,352, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.