ar·ti·fice 
/ˈɑɚtəfəs/ noun
plural ar·ti·fic·es /ˈɑɚtəfəs/ noun : dishonest or insincere behavior or speech that is meant to deceive someone [noncount] ▪ He spoke without artifice or pretense. [count] ▪ political/legal artifices ▪ The whole story was just an artifice to win our sympathy.
