fraus

Fraus is a Latin noun meaning deceit, fraud, or wrongdoing carried out through deception. It is the source of the English word fraud, and it appears in classical Latin texts as a label for improper or deceitful conduct, especially in relation to games, contracts, or social obligations.

In classical Latin usage, fraus denoted acts of deception that caused harm or violated trust. It was used in moral and legal contexts to describe dishonest practices and to distinguish legitimate conduct from deceitful behavior. The term contributed to later legal vocabulary in which deceit and misrepresentation were recognized as grounds for redress or liability.

In legal and scholarly contexts, fraud refers to deception intended to secure an unfair or unlawful advantage. Modern civil and criminal law typically requires elements such as a false representation or concealment of a material fact, knowledge of its falsity or reckless disregard for the truth, intent to deceive, reliance on the misrepresentation, and resulting damages. Forms of fraud can include false statements, omission of important information, or manipulative schemes designed to mislead victims.

Today, fraud remains a central concern in law, accounting, finance, and consumer protection. The Latin term fraus survives primarily in academic or historical discussions, while the English term fraud is used across jurisdictions to describe a wide range of deceitful practices. Related concepts include deceit, misrepresentation, dolus (intent or malice), and mala fide.