bilk

American  

[bilk] / bɪlk /

verb (used with object)

1. to defraud; cheat.

   He bilked the government of almost a million dollars.

   Synonyms:

   rook, fleece, dupe, trick, swindle

2. to evade payment of (a debt).

3. to frustrate.

   a career bilked by poor health.

4. to escape from; elude.

   to bilk one's pursuers.

---

noun

1. a cheat; swindler.

2. a trick; fraud; deceit.

bilk British  

/ bɪlk /

verb

1. to balk; thwart

2. (often foll by of) to cheat or deceive, esp to avoid making payment to

3. to escape from; elude

4. cribbage to play a card that hinders (one's opponent) from scoring in his or her crib

---

noun

1. a swindle or cheat

2. a person who swindles or cheats

Other Word Forms

• bilker noun

Etymology

Origin of bilk

First recorded in 1625–35; of obscure origin

Explanation

Ever paid a restaurant bill only to discover they charged you for stuff you never had? What they did was bilk you — cheat you out of money that was justly yours. Shady companies are forever bilking their investors. To bilk someone is slightly different from plain robbing them, though the effect is the same; it implies a non-violent, subtle and devious method masquerading as legitimate. Bernie Madoff, the Ponzi scheme king, was a classic bilker. On a more enjoyable note, one of the greatest bilkers in TV history was the appropriately named Sergeant Bilko, played by the comedian Phil Silvers. His eternal card games, promotions and get-rich-quick schemes were all designed to part some poor sucker from their cash. Watch and learn from the master.

Example Sentences

The numbers out of Minnesota are staggering: Three separate plots to bilk welfare programs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

Growing up in Washington State, she was in a community production of “The Music Man,” another show about a slick con man trying to bilk small towners.

From New York Times • Mar. 21, 2023

Costello wouldn’t be the only former Washingtonian accused of fabricating his résumé to bilk investors.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 6, 2022

They also face fake brokers who promise to help them send money back to their families in the North but instead just bilk them.

From Washington Post • Apr. 23, 2022

He's dug up proof that the real Willa Murdaugh died and she is just a trapper's daughter from the wilds somewhere, whom that gambler adopted in order to bilk the estate later.

From The Fifth Ace by Gage, George W.

Related Words

• con
• deceive
• defraud
• fleece
• swindle