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Definition of fagin

fagin

/ˈfeɪ.ɡɪn/
fa · gin
Plural:fagins
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fagin Lexical Profile

fagin Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An adult criminal who recruits, trains, and employs children or young people to commit thefts and other crimes on their behalf.

Example

"The police dismantled the shoplifting ring after arresting the modern-day fagin who had been directing the runaway teenagers."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for fagin

• Nearby Words

fae
fag
faggot
fagin
fahrenheit
fail
failing

Word Origin & Etymology

Eponymously derived from Fagin, the villainous character in Charles Dickens's 1838 novel Oliver Twist who recruits and trains homeless children as pickpockets in exchange for shelter. Dickens took the name from Bob Fagin, a friend he had known while working in a London boot-blacking factory in his youth.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Fagin. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/fagin
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