con
Con (noun) means a dishonest scheme designed to trick someone, usually to take their money. Example: “The whole investment offer turned out to be a con.”
How to use con
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly, either a scam meant to cheat someone, or the downside of something (as in "pros and cons"); also slang for a convict or a fan convention.
Don't confuse this "con" (scam/downside) with the unrelated older verb "con" meaning to study carefully — they look identical but come from different origins.
Word forms
conned past tense, conned past tense, cons plural, cons plural, cons plural, cons plural, cons plural, cons plural, cons plural, cons singular, cons singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The whole investment offer turned out to be a _____.
Etymology
The "trick" and "convict" senses are shortened forms of confidence (as in "confidence trick") and convict. The older verb sense meaning "to study closely" comes from Old English cunnan, "to know" — the same root as "can."
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “con” mean?
The word “con” means a dishonest scheme designed to trick someone, usually to take their money. In plain terms, most commonly, either a scam meant to cheat someone, or the downside of something (as in "pros and cons"); also slang for a convict or a fan convention.
How do you pronounce “con”?
“Con” is pronounced kon (/kɑn/ in IPA).
How do you use “con” in a sentence?
Here is “con” used in a sentence: “The whole investment offer turned out to be a con.”
What is the opposite of “con”?
The opposite of “con” — its antonyms — is pro.
What part of speech is “con”?
Depending on how it is used, “con” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “con” come from?
The word “con” comes from Old English.
Is “con” a common word?
“Con” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “con” have?
“Con” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dishonest scheme designed to trick someone, usually to take their money.
What is the difference between a "con" and a "scam"?
A con and a scam both describe dishonest schemes designed to trick people out of money, and the words are often interchangeable. "Con" is short for "confidence trick" and stresses gaining the victim's trust first, while "scam" is a broader, more general term for any fraudulent scheme.
When should you use "con" instead of "defraud"?
"Con" is informal and conversational, suited to everyday speech like "they conned him out of his savings." "Defraud" is formal and often legal, used in contracts, reports, and court settings where precise, serious language is expected.
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