Meaning & use

con

noun·Everyday

A dishonest scheme intended to trick someone, especially out of money.

See it in a sentence

The lottery email turned out to be an elaborate con targeting elderly victims.

Police warned residents about a new con involving fake home repair companies.

A note on using this word

Con is informal; as a verb it means to deceive someone through trickery, as in he conned her out of her savings.

Words with a similar meaning

scamswindlefraud

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To deceive or trick someone, typically to obtain money or an advantage.

The salesman conned dozens of homeowners with a fake roofing scheme.

3. noun

A disadvantage or negative point, especially weighed against advantages.

One con of the apartment is its distance from public transit.

Make it your own

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