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Definition of scam

scam

/skæm/
scam
Plural:scams
•
Adjective:scammy
•
Past Simple:scammed
•
Past Participle:scammed
•
Present Participle:scamming
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scam Lexical Profile

scam Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A dishonest scheme or fraudulent business practice designed to deceive people out of money or personal information.

Example

"The consumer protection agency warned residents about a phone scam targeting elderly homeowners."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for scam

• verb

1

To deceive or defraud someone out of money or property through a dishonest scheme.

Example

"Several investors realized too late that the unlicensed broker had scammed them out of their savings."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for scam

• Rhymes for scam

• Nearby Words

scalping
scalx
scaly
scam
scammer
scammy
scamp

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the early 1960s as American carnival slang for a rigged game or swindle, likely derived from 19th-century British dialect 'scamp' (a highway robber or cheat).

Cite this Entry

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