decoy

noun
UK: /dɪˈkɔɪ/
US: /ˈdiːkɔɪ/

  1. A person or thing used to trick someone into going somewhere or doing something, often as part of a plan.

    1. The shoplifter used a friend as a decoy.
    2. Police used a fake car as a decoy to catch speeding drivers on the highway.

  2. An artificial bird used to attract real birds so that they can be shot or caught.

    1. The hunter placed several duck decoys in the pond.
    2. Using goose decoys, the hunters waited patiently in their blind for the birds to approach.

Synonyms

trick bait attractant trap lure
decoy verb

  1. To trick someone into going somewhere or doing something, usually as part of a plan.

    1. He tried to decoy her into his car.
    2. The police decoyed the suspect into a trap by staging a fake robbery.

  2. To lead animals into a trap or hunting area by using a fake animal or sound.

    1. Hunters often decoy ducks with artificial calls.
    2. The hunter used a mechanical rabbit to decoy coyotes into the open field.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "decoy" in English means: A person or thing used to trick someone into going somewhere or doing something, often as part of a plan., An artificial bird used to attract real birds so that they can be shot or caught..

The phonetic transcription of "decoy" is /dɪˈkɔɪ/ in British English and /ˈdiːkɔɪ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "decoy": trick, bait, attractant, trap, lure.

Example usage of "decoy": "The shoplifter used a friend as a decoy.". More examples on the page.