English Explanatory Dictionary

scam

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A fraudulent deal.
  2. Something that is promoted using scams.
verb
  1. To defraud or embezzle.
  2. To seek out a partner for casual sex; to hit on.

Pronunciation

/ˈskæm/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-scam.wav /ˈskeə̯m/ /ˈskɛə̯m/

Word forms

scam scams scamming scammed

Etymology

US American carnival slang of uncertain origin. Possibly from scamp (“swindler, cheater”) or Irish cam (“crooked”). Also possibly from Danish skam; if so, it would be a doublet of shame and sham. First use appears c. 1963 in the periodical Time. The word became common use among the US drug culture when in early 1980, after Operation ABSCAM, an FBI sting operation directed at public officials, became public.

Synonyms

deception deceit dupery fiddle fetch hocus-pocus jugglery legerdemain list mislead prestidigitation Punic faith rinky-dink ruse sleight of hand subterfuge swack trickery con

Derived words

419 scam advance fee scam antiscam cyberscam exit scam love scam Macau scam Nigerian prince scam Nigerian scam ponzi scam romance scam safe account scam scam artist scam artistry scambait scambaiter scambaiting scambot scamcoin scamdemic scammer scammish scammy scamster scamware Ukroscam Uncle Scam what's the scam outscam scammable scammee
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