decoy

Decoy is a term for a person or thing designed to lure or mislead others, often to draw them into danger, trap, or a desired direction. The concept appears across hunting, military deception, law enforcement, and wildlife management, where a decoy mimics the appearance, sound, or behavior of a target to attract real opponents, prey, or bystanders.

Etymology: The noun decoy comes from the verb decoy, from Middle English and Old French decoyer meaning to lure away or deceive. The noun form began to appear in English in the 17th century.

Common uses include hunting decoys, such as inflatable or fixed models of waterfowl used to attract ducks or geese; fishing decoys; and predator decoys. In military and security contexts, decoys include dummy vehicles, inflatable craft, and other signals designed to mislead an adversary or conceal real assets. Law enforcement may deploy decoys to trap criminals or study behavior.

Ethical and legal considerations vary by jurisdiction. Regulations may govern the use of live decoys, decoy devices, and deceptive practices in hunting or law enforcement. Debates often touch on animal welfare, safety, and the potential for unintended harm.

In decision science, the term decoy is used in the decoy effect to describe how the presence of a suboptimal option can influence preference between two other options.