Chicanery/ʃɪˈkeɪnəri/ Definition 1 of 1Pro Tip 1/3Often Negative Chicanery usually implies negative judgment and is considered unethical. The lawyer's chicanery led to a mistrial. Pro Tip 2/3Subtle Tricks Chicanery refers to clever, subtle schemes or deception, not obvious lies. He used chicanery to outwit his competitors. Pro Tip 3/3Common Contexts Chicanery is often discussed in contexts involving politics, business, or finance. The report unveiled chicanery in campaign financing.