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

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

Veteran sports gamblers are happy if they can do just slightly better, hitting 53.5 percent or more of their bets, which is the threshold for beating the vig and being profitable.

From New York Times • Jan. 30, 2014

A vig for all my vrens! doest thou tell me of my vrens?

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