What term refers to the act of being untruthful or deceptive?

The chosen term, dishonesty, refers broadly to the act of being untruthful or deceptive in behavior, communication, or intentions. It encompasses various forms of deceit, which can manifest in lying, withholding the truth, or presenting information in a misleading way. Dishonesty is a principal concept in ethical discussions and is fundamentally about integrity and trustworthiness.

While deception specifically relates to the act of misleading someone, it is often used in more specific contexts, such as in the examination of psychological tactics or strategies. Misrepresentation focuses on presenting false information or an inaccurate portrayal of facts, often with the intent to deceive others. Fraud, on the other hand, implies a legal context where deception is used for personal gain, typically involving financial or contractual fraud.

Thus, dishonesty serves as the overarching term that includes various dimensions of untruthful behavior, making it the appropriate choice for defining the act of being untruthful or deceptive in a general sense.