What words describe deception by trickery?

Chicanery specifically refers to the use of trickery or deception to achieve a particular goal, often in a legal or political context. It implies a level of cunning or artifice that is intended to mislead others for personal gain or to escape scrutiny. The term suggests a deceptive practice that manipulates situations or facts, typically to the detriment of another party.

Fraud, deceit, and subterfuge also involve deception but may carry slightly different connotations or contexts. Fraud generally implies a wrongful or criminal deception intended for personal gain, while deceit focuses on the act of misleading others, often implying a fundamental breach of trust. Subterfuge involves a strategy or tactic designed to hide something or evade responsibility, which can include deceptive strategies, but does not solely focus on trickery as chicanery does. Thus, chicanery is the most precise term for describing deception through trickery.