noun
conman
noun
1
A person who cheats or deceives others out of money or trust, typically through a confidence scheme.
"The conman convinced elderly residents to hand over their savings for a fake investment."
"Police warned that a conman was posing as a bank official to trick customers."
How to Use Conman
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA scammer or swindler who tricks people by first earning their trust.
Common mistake
Increasingly written as two words, "con man," in formal writing, though "conman" is common informally.
Common pairings
a smooth conman
fall for a conman
a conman's trick
Word Forms
conmen plural
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The _____ convinced elderly residents to hand over their savings for a fake investment.
Etymology
A shortening of "confidence man" — someone who wins a victim's confidence in order to swindle them.