Giving an appearance or impression different from the true one; misleading. The calm surface of the water was deceptive, hiding strong currents beneath.
Intended or designed to deceive; fraudulent. The company used deceptive advertising practices.
Music: (of a cadence) moving to an unexpected chord, especially the submediant, instead of the expected tonic. The composer surprises the audience with a deceptive cadence at the end of the movement.