chicanery

/ʃɪˈkeɪn(ə)ɹi/

Group 3Difficulty 2/3

Definition

(noun)
The use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose
GRE

Example in Context

The investigation uncovered a pattern of corporate chicanery that had shielded billions in profits from taxation for over a decade.

Synonyms

trickerydeceptionfraud

Etymology

Tricking others for deceitful gain, often in politics or finance.

  • chican (French) — to trick

Memory Aid

🐔Sounds like “chick-on-a-ery

Picture a CHICKEN on a stage, performing CHICANERY tricks to fool the audience!

Visual Association

🎭A magician pulling off a sleight of hand to deceive the crowd.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “chicanery” mean on the GRE?

chicanery (noun) means “The use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose”. The investigation uncovered a pattern of corporate chicanery that had shielded billions in profits from taxation for over a decade.

How to remember “chicanery” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “chicanery” sounds like “chick-on-a-ery”. Picture a CHICKEN on a stage, performing CHICANERY tricks to fool the audience!

What are synonyms for “chicanery”?

Common synonyms: trickery, deception, fraud.