foist
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to force upon or impose fraudulently or unjustifiably (usually followed by on orupon ).
to foist inferior merchandise on a customer.
-
to bring, put, or introduce surreptitiously or fraudulently (usually followed by in orinto ).
to foist political views into a news story.
verb
-
to sell or pass off (something, esp an inferior article) as genuine, valuable, etc
-
to insert surreptitiously or wrongfully
Other Word Forms
- unfoisted adjective
Etymology
Origin of foist
1535–45; < Dutch dialect vuisten, derivative of vuist fist 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The city pressed private property into public service, foisting the cost of its coronavirus response onto housing providers.”
From Los Angeles Times
Long delays will mean shippers will be trying to foist mushy brown bananas on consumers who might reject them.
From Salon
Happiness with your choice is most evident when you’re not trying to foist it onto someone else or make the choices of others into a weird crusade.
From Los Angeles Times
Some Facebook users don’t like the chatbot, complaining in online forums that they’re tired of having AI foisted on them all the time or that they just want to stick with what they know.
From Seattle Times
It was being foisted on him, and that he resented.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.