chicanery

[shi-key-nuh-ree, chi-] /ʃɪˈkeɪ nə ri, tʃɪ-/
noun, plural chicaneries.
1.
trickery or deception by quibbling or sophistry:
He resorted to the worst flattery and chicanery to win the job.
2.
a quibble or subterfuge used to trick, deceive, or evade.
Origin
1605-15; < French chicanerie. See chicane, -ery
Synonyms
1. fraud, deception, knavery. 2. evasion.
Examples from the web for chicanery
  • The cut-off is arbitrary, and leads to much accounting chicanery.
  • Auditors uncovered telltale hints of financial chicanery.
  • Politics has always been lousy with blather and chicanery.
  • The struggle between these faction is marked by pleasingly intricate chicanery.
  • Of all the directors, they say, he should have been able to detect chicanery.
  • The urgency, chicanery and bidding wars always add to the atmosphere.
  • Instead of honest, professionally built relationships, office politicians build relationships through deceit and chicanery.
  • But, you were right to take the high road and to avoid the partisan chicanery that so tires our people.
  • Such chicanery can only be inferred through conjecture and speculation, which are not acceptable bases for finding a conspiracy.
  • Absent chicanery or the intent to gain advantage by misleading the court, judicial estoppel does not apply.
British Dictionary definitions for chicanery

chicanery

/ʃɪˈkeɪnərɪ/
noun (pl) -eries
1.
verbal deception or trickery, esp in legal quibbling; dishonest or sharp practice
2.
a trick, deception, or quibble
Word Origin and History for chicanery
n.

c.1600, "legal quibbling, sophistry," from French chicanerie "trickery," from Middle French chicaner "to pettifog, quibble" (15c.), of unknown origin, perhaps from Middle Low German schikken "to arrange, bring about," or from the name of a golf-like game once played in Languedoc.