ὑπόκρισις,  [2 verses](noun sg fem nom) "Hypocrisy" is hypokrisis, which means "playing a part," "delivery" [of an orator{," and"outward show." -- (UW) The Greek for "hypocrisy" is a great example of a word that has taken its English meaning from how it is used in the Bible rather than the original Greek.  It is is a Greek word that means "playing a part," "delivery" [of an orator]," and"outward show." The noun referring to people means "actor." See this article on the word and its wordplay.  Interestingly enough, it also means "interpreter," which is another separation between what is said and reality. Its literal meaning is "beneath separation," which describes the separation between fact and fiction, real action versus pretended action. UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "hypocrites" means "actor." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.