con

[ kon ]

See synonyms for con on Thesaurus.com

adverb

against a proposition, opinion, etc.: arguments pro and con.

noun

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

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

Compare pro¹.

Words Nearby con

Other definitions for con (2 of 10)

con²

[ kon ]

verb (used with object),conned, con·ning.

to swindle; trick: That crook conned me out of all my savings.
to persuade by deception, cajolery, etc.: Don't worry, I can always con my dad into letting me use his car.

noun

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

adjective

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

Origin of con

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

Other definitions for con (3 of 10)

con³

[ kon ]

nounSlang.

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

Origin of con

First recorded in 1715–25; by shortening

Other definitions for con (4 of 10)

con⁴

[ kon ]

nounInformal.

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.

to learn; study; peruse or examine carefully: She's been conning her grandfather's medical diaries for months.
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.

to direct the steering of (a ship): conning the freighter into port.

noun

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

to strike, hit, or rap (something or someone): We think he was conned with a cricket bat.
to hammer (a nail or peg): Who knew conning tacks into the new carpet would take so long?

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-

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

concerto.
conclusion.

connection.
consolidated.
consul.
continued.
against.

Origin of con.

⁹

From the Latin word contrā

Other definitions for Con. (10 of 10)

Con.

abbreviation

Conformist.
Consul.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use con in a sentence

But almost to the man, the first thing every ex-con tells me is how hard it is to find work.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside | Justin Rohrlich | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of hosting the Archer panel at New York Comic-con.
‘Archer’ Season 6 Preview: Cast and Crew on Rebranding and Dropping ISIS | Marlow Stern | October 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“Ultron is the uber-villain; he is all the knowledge that is or ever was,” Spader told us at Comic-con.
‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’s’ Kickass Trailer Leaks, Features Iron Man’s Hulkbuster Armor and Ultron | Marlow Stern | October 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“We have undercover security,” says Vincent Zurzolo, the suave man in the blue suit in booth 2630 of New York Comic con.
The Holy Grail of Comic Books Hid in Plain Site at New York Comic Con | Sujay Kumar | October 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
If you were to have undercover security, Comic con is the perfect site.
The Holy Grail of Comic Books Hid in Plain Site at New York Comic Con | Sujay Kumar | October 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

“Chaplet”—a wreath or garland signed for by him in his ambitious hopes—expresses his birth-date by con.
Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
Mister Public is further deceived in believing that the 'con man' who has a pitch nearby is connected with the enterprise.
David Lannarck, Midget | George S. Harney
There was a large collection of ladies, amongst whom were two of the most celebrated in the capital—Seora Maria con.
The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, Volume II (of 3) | Elliott Coues
Capella is lo-cat-ed in the con-stell-a-tion which you call Auriga.
Jubilation, U.S.A. | G. L. Vandenburg
con them over a few times, and they will turn into letters of light.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 57, No. 356, June, 1845 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for con (1 of 8)

con¹

/ (kɒn) informal /

noun

- short for confidence trick
- (as modifier): con man

verbcons, conning or conned

(tr) to swindle or defraud

Origin of con

C19: from confidence

British Dictionary definitions for con (2 of 8)

con²

/ (kɒn) /

noun(usually plural)

an argument or vote against a proposal, motion, etc
a person who argues or votes against a proposal, motion, etc

Origin of con

from Latin contrā against, opposed to

Compare pro 1
See also pros and cons

British Dictionary definitions for con (3 of 8)

con³

/ (kɒn) /

noun

slang short for convict

British Dictionary definitions for con (4 of 8)

con⁴

verbcons, conns, conning or conned

(tr) to direct the steering of (a vessel)

noun

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

(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

music with

Origin of con

⁶

Italian

British Dictionary definitions for con- (7 of 8)

con-

prefix

a variant of com-

British Dictionary definitions for Con. (8 of 8)

Con.

abbreviation for

Conservative

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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