con
con Lexical Profile
con Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A disadvantage, drawback, or argument against something, typically used in plural alongside 'pros'.
"Weighing the pros and cons carefully helped her choose the best university."
An instance of deceiving or tricking someone, especially to swindle money after gaining their trust; a confidence trick.
"The investment opportunity turned out to be an elaborate con orchestrated by fraudsters."
A convict or prison inmate (used informally).
"The novel follows an ex-con trying to rebuild his life and find steady employment."
A convention, especially an organized gathering of fans of a particular hobby, genre, or cultural phenomenon.
"Thousands of comic book enthusiasts attended the annual con in San Diego."
• verb
To persuade someone to do or believe something by lying to them or using a confidence trick; to swindle.
"The dishonest dealer tried to con the tourists into buying counterfeit antiques."
To direct the steering and course of a ship or vessel.
"The captain carefully conned the vessel through the narrow, rocky channel."
To study, peruse, or commit to memory attentively (now chiefly literary or archaic).
"The young scholar spent the evening conning his Latin grammar lessons by candlelight."
• adverb
In opposition to a proposition, opinion, or course of action; against.
"The committee debated the issue both pro and con before reaching a final consensus."
• Rhymes for con
Word Origin & Etymology
The word 'con' represents several distinct etymological clippings: in the sense of a disadvantage, it is shortened from Latin 'contra' (meaning 'against'); in the sense of fraud, from 'confidence' (as in confidence trick); and in the verb sense of studying, it derives from Old English 'cunnan' (meaning 'to know').