Definition of CON (original) (raw)
: something (such as a ruse) used deceptively to gain another's confidence
He knew too much about con to fall for that one …—
Herbert Gold
also : a confidence game : swindle
informal
Now, such gatherings as the Further Confusion convention in San Jose, California, and Anthrocon in Philadelphia, attract more than 1,000 furry hobbyists apiece. (The Midwest FurFest is a smaller "con," with about 400 attending.)—George Gurley
1
: an argument or evidence in opposition
2
: the negative position or one holding it
an appraisal of the pros and cons
: on the negative side : in opposition
so much has been written pro and con
2
: to study or examine closely
Clare regarded her attentively, conned the characters of her face as if they had been hieroglyphics.—Thomas Hardy
slang
: a destructive disease of the lungs
less common spelling of
: to conduct or direct the steering of (a vessel, such as a ship)
Synonyms of con
Examples of con in a Sentence
Noun (1)
a program to help ex-cons find employment Verb (1)
a fly-by-night operator who had conned hundreds of would-be homeowners out of their hard-earned money tried to con me into thinking that he had actually won the lottery Noun (2)
the explanation was so plausible that I never suspected it was all a con to make off with my car Noun (5)
usually candidates con their entire campaign speech, right down to the jokes they supposedly ad-lib seemed to be conning his face for any sign of uncertainty
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Order that plus a Café con Leche or natural guava juice, and you’ll be set clear through noon. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 May 2026 Analyzing the pros and cons of AI in NYC schools. —Doug Williams, CBS News, 14 May 2026
The centerpiece of his recent column is a list of quarterly rate increases after reform passed, presented as proof consumers were conned. —David Wilson, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026 How to get out of an awkward situation in order to avoid booking that plane ticket back to New York, where nothing much awaits her, after conning her way into a stranger’s home? —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026
Wouldn’t a con woman rear a child to be a con artist? —Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026 After the presentation, and pro/con arguments were made by multiple people during the city council meeting, the measure was passed by a 7-2 vote. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for con
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
derivative of con entry 7
Verb (1)
derivative of con entry 1 or con entry 7
Noun (2)
by shortening
Noun (3)
by shortening
Noun (4)
derivative of con entry 6
Adverb
short for Latin contrā "opposite, against," in the phrase pro and contra — more at contra-
Adjective
by shortening
Verb (2)
Middle English connen to know, learn, study, alteration of cunnen to know, infinitive of can — more at can entry 1
Noun (5)
short for consumption
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1901, in the meaning defined above
Verb (1)
1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
1893, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
1940, in the meaning defined above
Noun (4)
1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adverb
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
1889, in the meaning defined above
Verb (2)
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (5)
1915, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of con was in the 13th century
Browse Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
“Con.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/con. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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