C1nouninformalcrime
US/kɑːn/
UK/kɒn/
a trick to cheat someone, usually to get their money
In context
The free holiday offer turned out to be a con.
Police say the same con has cheated dozens of elderly people this year.
He made a living as a con artist, selling fake land documents.
Words that go with con
noun + noun
- con artistThe con artist pretended to be a bank officer.
- con manA con man sold the same flat to three buyers.
adjective + noun
- big conSome critics say the whole scheme is one big con.
- clever conIt was a clever con that used a fake company website.
verb + preposition
- fall for a conEven careful people can fall for a con online.