Meaning & use
con
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Meanings
nouncountabledisapproving
A dishonest plan or trick used to get money, trust, or an advantage.
Grammar: Countable; plural is cons. It is stronger than a simple lie and often planned.
Patterns
- run a con
- pull a con on someone
- con to get money
The email was a con to collect bank details.
He ran a con on tourists outside the station.
She realized the prize was a con too late.
verbtransitivedisapproving
To deceive or trick someone, especially to obtain money or an advantage.
Grammar: Takes an object; common patterns are con someone out of something and con someone into doing.
Patterns
- con someone out of money
- con someone into doing something
- con a victim
The caller tried to con her out of her savings.
He conned them into signing the contract.
They were conned by a fake charity collector.
nounusually plural
A disadvantage or negative point, especially when weighed against advantages.
Grammar: Most common in the plural as cons in pros and cons; singular is possible but less frequent.
Patterns
- pros and cons
- the cons of something
- weigh the cons
We listed the pros and cons of moving.
The main con is the long commute.
Before buying, weigh the cons carefully.
Word forms
| plural noun | cons |
|---|---|
| third-person singular | cons |
| past tense | conned |
| past participle | conned |
| -ing form | conning |
Common combinations
- con artist
- The con artist smiled while selling fake tickets.
- con someone out of savings
- A stranger conned him out of his savings.
- pros and cons
- Let's compare the pros and cons of each plan.
- weigh the cons
- She weighed the cons before accepting the job.
Synonyms and how they differ
- scam
- A specific dishonest scheme, especially for money; con is similar and very close in use.
- fraud
- Broader and more legal or serious; it can name the crime, not just one trick.
- trick
- Milder and general; a con is usually planned to gain money or trust.
- downside
- For the disadvantage sense only; it lacks the dishonest-scheme meaning.
Opposites
Commonly confused: con or pro? con or scam?
con vs pro
Pro means an advantage in pros and cons; con means a disadvantage or a dishonest trick by context.
con vs scam
Scam usually names the scheme; con can be the scheme or the act of tricking.
Practice
Choose the correct pattern: The fake investor tried to ___ retirees ___ their savings.
Choose one answer.
The pattern is con someone out of money. “Con into” is followed by a verb, not a possession, and pro means advantage.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “con”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.