Artifice

noun/AR-tih-fiss/

Meaning

Clever trickery or a cunning device used to fool people.

In context
The magician's show was pure artifice, but the audience loved every illusion.

Remember it

Artifice shares roots with 'artificial'; it is a crafted trick, not the real thing.

Use it well

Use for clever, crafty deception or trickery; can also mean skilful, showy cleverness.