If you refer to something or someone as a decoy, you mean that they are intended to attract people's attention and deceive them, for example by leading them into a trap or away from a particular place.
Nick acted as a decoy after the dog attacked a group of children swimming in theriver.
He was booked on a flight leaving that day, but that was just a decoy.
Synonyms: lure, attraction, bait, trap More Synonyms of decoy
2. countable noun
A decoy is a model of a bird that is used to attract wild birds towards it so that people can study them or shoot them.
More Synonyms of decoy
decoy in British English
noun (ˈdiːkɔɪ, dɪˈkɔɪ)
1.
a person or thing used to beguile or lead someone into danger; lure
2. military
something designed to deceive an enemy or divert his or her attention
3.
a bird or animal, or an image of one, used to lure game into a trap or within shooting range
4.
an enclosed space or large trap, often with a wide funnelled entrance, into which game can be lured for capture
5. Canadian another word for deke (sense 1)
verb (dɪˈkɔɪ)
6.
to lure or be lured by or as if by means of a decoy
7. (transitive) Canadian another word for deke (sense 2)
Derived forms
decoyer (deˈcoyer)
noun
Word origin
C17: probably from Dutch de kooi, literally: the cage, from Latin caveacage
decoy in American English
(diˈkɔɪ; dɪkɔɪ; for n., usually ˈdiˌkɔɪ)
noun
1.
a place into which wild ducks, etc. are lured for capture
2.
an artificial bird or animal, or sometimes a trained live one, used to lure game to a place where it can be shot
3.
a thing or person used to lure or tempt into danger or a trap
a police decoy
verb transitive, verb intransitive
4.
to lure or be lured into a trap, danger, etc.
SIMILAR WORDS: lure
Word origin
< Du de kooi, the cage < de, def. art. (akin to the) + kooi, cage < WGmc *kawia < L cavea, cage
Examples of 'decoy' in a sentence
decoy
Without wooden duck decoys for the birds to flock to, though, this wouldn’t have been possible.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
England's really slick play this autumn has been based on tying up defenders with decoy runners and then getting outside the opposition with some crisp passing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Wales must therefore deploy the option of using him as a decoy runner.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He puts his head down and runs the decoy lines.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
His decoy runs opened up space for others to play in.
The Sun (2013)
Another tactic England must redress is the long pass thrown behind the decoy runners.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
I would like to introduce you to the concept of the decoy kitchen.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
decoy
British English: decoy NOUN
If you refer to something or someone as a decoy, you mean that they are intended to attract people's attention and deceive them.
A plane was waiting at the airport with its engines running but this was just one of the decoys.
American English: decoy
Brazilian Portuguese: engodo
Chinese: 诱饵
European Spanish: señuelo
French: piège
German: Köder
Italian: stratagemma per sviare l'attenzione
Japanese: おとり
Korean: 유인책
European Portuguese: engodo
Latin American Spanish: señuelo
(noun)
Definition
an image of a bird or animal, used to lure game into a trap or within shooting range
He acted as a decoy to draw the dogs' attention away from the children.
Synonyms
lure
The lure of rural life is proving as strong as ever.
attraction
It was never a physical attraction, just a meeting of minds.
bait
bait to attract audiences for advertisements
trap
He failed to keep the appointment after sensing a police trap.
inducement
They offer every inducement to encourage investment.
enticement
The cash bonus is an added enticement for the bank's customers.
ensnarement
(verb)
Definition
to lure into danger by means of a decoy
They used flares to decoy enemy missiles.
Synonyms
lure
They did not realise that they were being lured into a trap.
tempt
Don't let credit tempt you to buy something you can't afford.
entice
Retailers will try almost anything to entice shoppers through their doors.
seduce
The view of the lake and plunging cliffs seduces visitors.
deceive
He has deceived and disillusioned us all.
allure
The dog was allured by the smell of roasting meat.
ensnare
The spider must wait for the prey to be ensnared in its web.
entrap
The whale's mouth contains filters which entrap plankton.
inveigle
Additional synonyms
in the sense of allure
The dog was allured by the smell of roasting meat.
Synonyms
attract,
persuade,
charm,
win over,
tempt,
lure,
seduce,
entice,
enchant,
lead on,
coax,
captivate,
beguile,
cajole,
decoy,
inveigle
in the sense of attraction
Definition
an interesting or desirable feature
It was never a physical attraction, just a meeting of minds.