mulct
Americanverb (used with object)
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to deprive (someone) of something, as by fraud, extortion, etc.; swindle.
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to obtain (money or the like) by fraud, extortion, etc.
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to punish (a person) by fine, especially for a misdemeanor.
noun
verb
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to cheat or defraud
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to fine (a person)
noun
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing mulct
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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.
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
No sooner had Kim left than investigators began exploring rumors that he had used his powerful C.I.A. job to make a stock market killing and to mulct kickbacks from government contractors.
From Time Magazine Archive
Fortnight ago the League of New York Theatres, Inc., six months in forming, got into motion against the Broadway ticket-speculators who annually mulct theatre-goers of thousands of dollars.
From Time Magazine Archive
He was mulct in some inconsiderable fine as well, and he was allowed to suit his own convenience and fancy as to the time and manner of surrender.
From Recollections With Photogravure Portrait of the Author and a number of Original Letters, of which one by George Meredith and another by Robert Louis Stevenson are reproduced in facsimile by David Christie Murray
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
