mulct

American  

[muhlkt] / mʌlkt /

verb (used with object)

1. to deprive (someone) of something, as by fraud, extortion, etc.; swindle.

2. to obtain (money or the like) by fraud, extortion, etc.

3. to punish (a person) by fine, especially for a misdemeanor.

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noun

1. a fine, especially for a misdemeanor.

mulct British  

/ mʌlkt /

verb

1. to cheat or defraud

2. to fine (a person)

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noun

1. a fine or penalty

Other Word Forms

• unmulcted adjective

Etymology

Origin of mulct

First recorded in 1475–85, mulct is from the Latin word mul(c)ta penalty involving loss of property

Explanation

The meaning of mulct is as nasty as it sounds; it means to fine someone or the money you collect as a result of a fine. No one wants to pay an extra mulct to the city, when it's the city who mismanaged the budget. Got mulct? Then somebody took your money. They "milked" you by mulcting you. And the money that they took? That's called mulct, too. Some people believe that there's no difference between being mulcted by the state and being shaken down by the mob. In fact, the word mulct is often used to mean having your money taken unfairly or as a kind of punishment or as extortion.

Example Sentences

Time Warner figured it could mulct the other pay-TV companies for every last dime because, really, what TV service would dare not carry the Dodgers, whatever the price?

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2022

“Existing at the pleasure of the advertisers, to mulct the public, gratifying their stupidity, and render some small advance on investment to the owners, offering putative employment to their etiolated, wastrel sons.”

From Washington Post • Mar. 6, 2018

Subsequent toasts to le cheval, Vane and le mulct were capped, of course, by the final and inevitable "A la Belle France!"

From Time Magazine Archive

By hook and crook, he manages to mulct $3,000,000 in hush money.

From Time Magazine Archive

But when I fall under the blind displeasure of the stupid bureau at Washington, justice, nay, honesty, is forgotten—they mulct me of my laurels.

From Faithful Margaret A Novel by Ashmore, Annie