What does "decoy" mean?

A person or object meant to lure somebody into danger.

What is a synonym for "decoy"?

Common synonyms include: bait, lure, agent provocateur, allure, allurement, attract.

noun, verb

noun, verb ·2 syllables ·Moderate ·High school level

Noun

1
A person or object meant to lure somebody into danger.
2
something used to lure fish or other animals into danger so they can be trapped or killed wordnet
3
A real or fake animal used by hunters to lure game.
4
a beguiler who leads someone into danger (usually as part of a plot) wordnet
5
Deceptive military device used to draw enemy attention or fire away from a more important target.
"2002, Robotech: Battlecry – Guide and Walkthrough Just every 5 seconds or so shoot out a decoy near the Cats Eye and the enemies will aim for that instead of the Cats Eye."

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6
An assembly of hooped or netted corridors into which wild ducks may be enticed (originally by tame ducks) and trapped.

Verb

1
To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare; to entrap. transitive
"to decoy troops into an ambush; to decoy ducks into a net"
2
lure or entrap with or as if with a decoy wordnet
3
To act as, or use, a decoy. intransitive
"As they were being decoyed, the rescue team carried the hostage and quietly slipped away."

"Trappers used decoy birds and a sticky substance."

From Dutch de + kooi, literally "the cage". Possibly related to verb coy (which itself may have been influenced by decoy).