vig

British

/ vɪɡ /

noun

slang the interest on a loan that is paid to a moneylender

"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

Etymology

Origin of vig

C20: short for vigorish , prob. via Yiddish from Russian vyigrysh profit, winnings

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.

Casinos appreciate the higher vig and gamblers love the prospect of a big payout on a small bet.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

Heck, if the NFL truly cared about its gambling customers, it would open its own sportsbook, offering no vig and the best parlay odds anywhere.

From Washington Post • Dec. 8, 2019

I don't care what vig you have to pay, you might want to skip the first five bets and just focus on this one.

From Golf Digest • Aug. 30, 2018

Include back pay as well as a 10 percent vig for your blatant disrespect.

From Slate • Jul. 25, 2018

Is that all? vare thee well, chee vere thee not a vig.

From The London Prodigal; "by William Shakespeare." as it was played by the King's Majesties servants. by Unknown

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023