bilk

[bilk]

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of bilk¹

First recorded in 1625–35; of obscure origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of bilk¹

C17: perhaps variant of _balk

Example Sentences

From those schools, 10 teachers were bilked out of roughly $7,000 in credit card charges, Ware said.

From Los Angeles Times

But this week Joseph Sanberg, who made his fortune investing early in companies like Blue Apron, was taken into custody for his alleged role in bilking investors out of at least $145 million.

From Los Angeles Times

Not the cancer part, or the charity bilking, but if the recipes weren’t good, the app wouldn’t have been such a hit, right?

From Salon

Nearby, in a children’s lemonade stand, the president sells us baseball caps and t-shirts while his billionaire handlers bilk the national treasury for their own nefarious means.

From Salon

A Southern California doctor accused of bilking Medicare out of millions by billing for unnecessary hospice services has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, federal prosecutors said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• con 
• deceive 
• defraud 
• fleece 
• swindle