CEFR B2

misdirection

noun

Meaning

The act of causing someone to misunderstand or to focus on the wrong thing, often to conceal a true intention or action.

Examples

  • The con artist used misdirection to steal the man's wallet.
  • The politician's speech was full of misdirection, avoiding any real answers.

Synonyms: deception, trickery, artifice, subterfuge