Legal Definitions - cheat

The term "cheat" refers to an act of dishonesty or deception, typically performed to gain an unfair advantage or to defraud someone. It can also refer to the person who engages in such acts.

Here are some examples illustrating the meaning of "cheat":

• Example 1: Academic Dishonesty

  During a university final exam, a student secretly uses a pre-written note hidden in their sleeve to answer difficult questions, despite the exam rules explicitly stating that no outside materials are allowed.

  Explanation: This action constitutes cheating because the student is practicing deception (hiding the note) to gain an unfair advantage (a higher grade) over their peers who are adhering to the rules and relying solely on their own knowledge.

• Example 2: Financial Deception

  A contractor submits an invoice to a client for materials that were never purchased or used in a home renovation project, hoping the client will pay the inflated bill without noticing the discrepancy.

  Explanation: This is an act of cheating because the contractor is attempting to defraud the client by intentionally misrepresenting the costs, thereby seeking to gain an unfair financial profit for expenses that were not incurred.

• Example 3: Sporting Misconduct

  In a professional cycling race, a competitor intentionally cuts a corner on the track, riding outside the designated lane to shave a few seconds off their time and move ahead of rivals.

  Explanation: This illustrates cheating as the cyclist is acting dishonestly and breaking the established rules of the competition to gain an unfair advantage (a faster time and better position) over other athletes who are following the correct course.