Hypocrite
/ˈhɪpəkrɪt/noun
A person who claims to have moral standards or beliefs that they do not actually follow.
Did you know?Its Greek root, *hypokritēs*, was tied to stage performance, so the insult began as a warning about people who were literally pretending in public.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*krei-
“to sift, distinguish, decide”
Ancient Greek
Greek
hypokritḗs (ὑποκριτής)
“an interpreter, respondent, or stage actor”
Late Latin
Latin
hypocrīta
“actor, pretender”
Old French
Old French
ypocrite
“a pretender; one who feigns piety”
Middle English
English
ypocrite
“a person who pretends to be virtuous”
Modern English
English
hypocrite
“a person who claims moral beliefs or standards they do not follow”