con

1
[ kon ]
See synonyms for con on Thesaurus.com
adverb
  1. against a proposition, opinion, etc.: arguments pro and con.

noun
  1. the argument, position, arguer, or voter against something: The pros of the library project are obvious, but we have to consider the cons as well.

Origin of con

1
First recorded in 1575–85; short for Latin contrā “in opposition, against”

Other definitions for con (2 of 10)

con2
[ kon ]

verb (used with object),conned, con·ning.
  1. to swindle; trick: That crook conned me out of all my savings.

  2. to persuade by deception, cajolery, etc.: Don't worry, I can always con my dad into letting me use his car.

noun
  1. a confidence game or swindle: By the time my uncle realized she was playing a con on him, she had already left town with his rare coin collection.

  2. a lie, exaggeration, or glib self-serving talk: He had a dozen different cons for getting out of paying traffic tickets.

adjective
  1. relating to or involving abuse of confidence: a slick con man;a con trick.

Origin of con

2
An Americanism first recorded in 1895–1900; by shortening of confidence

Other definitions for con (3 of 10)

con3
[ kon ]

nounSlang.
  1. a convict: Her brother's a con up in Elmira.

Origin of con

3
First recorded in 1715–25; by shortening

Other definitions for con (4 of 10)

con4
[ kon ]

nounInformal.
  1. a convention, especially one for fans of a particular type of popular culture: sci-fi, gaming, and anime cons.

Origin of con

4
First recorded in 1940–45; by shortening

Other definitions for con (5 of 10)

con5
[ kon ]

verb (used with object),conned, con·ning.
  1. to learn; study; peruse or examine carefully: She's been conning her grandfather's medical diaries for months.

  2. to commit to memory: I have conned the state capitals in alphabetical order, from Albany to Trenton.

Origin of con

5
First recorded before 1000; Middle English cunnen, Old English cunnan, variant of can1 in sense “become acquainted with, learn to know”

Other definitions for con (6 of 10)

con6

or conn

[ kon ]

verb (used with object),conned, con·ning.
  1. to direct the steering of (a ship): conning the freighter into port.

noun
  1. the station of the person who cons: You will assume the con, ensign.

  2. the act of conning: Storms from the northeast made for a difficult con.

Origin of con

6
First recorded in 1350–1400; earlier cond, apocopated variant of Middle English condie, condue, from Middle French cond(u)ire, from Latin condūcere “to conduct”

Other definitions for con (7 of 10)

con7
[ kon ]

verb (used with object),conned, con·ning.British Dialect.
  1. to strike, hit, or rap (something or someone): We think he was conned with a cricket bat.

  2. to hammer (a nail or peg): Who knew conning tacks into the new carpet would take so long?

  1. to beat or thrash (a person) with the hands or a weapon: He conned the poor guy in the pub for no apparent reason.

Origin of con

7
First recorded in 1890–95; perhaps akin to French cognée “hatchet,” cogner “to knock in, drive (a nail) home”

Other definitions for con- (8 of 10)

con-

  1. variant of com- before a consonant (except b, h, l, p, r) and, by assimilation, before n: convene; condone; connection.

Origin of con-

8
From Latin

Other definitions for con. (9 of 10)

con.

abbreviation
  1. concerto.

  2. conclusion.

  1. connection.

  2. consolidated.

  3. consul.

  4. continued.

  5. against.

Origin of con.

9
From the Latin word contrā

Other definitions for Con. (10 of 10)

Con.

abbreviation
  1. Conformist.

  2. Consul.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use con in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for con (1 of 8)

con1

/ (kɒn) informal /


noun
verbcons, conning or conned
  1. (tr) to swindle or defraud

Origin of con

1
C19: from confidence

British Dictionary definitions for con (2 of 8)

con2

/ (kɒn) /


noun(usually plural)
  1. an argument or vote against a proposal, motion, etc

  2. a person who argues or votes against a proposal, motion, etc

Origin of con

2
from Latin contrā against, opposed to

British Dictionary definitions for con (3 of 8)

con3

/ (kɒn) /


noun
  1. slang short for convict

British Dictionary definitions for con (4 of 8)

con4

verbcons, conns, conning or conned
  1. (tr) to direct the steering of (a vessel)

noun
  1. the place where a person who cons a vessel is stationed

Origin of con

4
C17 cun, from earlier condien to guide, from Old French conduire, from Latin condūcere; see conduct

British Dictionary definitions for con (5 of 8)

con5

/ (kɒn) /


verbcons, conning or conned
  1. (tr) archaic to study attentively or learn (esp in the phrase con by rote)

Origin of con

5
C15: variant of can 1 in the sense: to come to know

British Dictionary definitions for con (6 of 8)

con6

/ (kɒn) /


preposition
  1. music with

Origin of con

6
Italian

British Dictionary definitions for con- (7 of 8)

con-

prefix
  1. a variant of com-

British Dictionary definitions for Con. (8 of 8)

Con.

abbreviation for
  1. Conservative

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