What does "con" mean?
A disadvantage of something, especially when contrasted with its advantages (pros).
Con
/kɒn/ adj, name, noun, verb, slang
adj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A disadvantage of something, especially when contrasted with its advantages (pros).
- Grammar: con is listed as adj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: convict, inmate, adventurous, adversary.
- Useful contrasts: acquitted person, advantage, benefit.
- Usage evidence: Con artists take advantage of the credulity of inexperienced investors and swindle them out of their money.
How to use "con"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "con" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "con" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "con" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "con" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "con" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "convict" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "con", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A disadvantage of something, especially when contrasted with its advantages (pros).
"pros and cons"
- 2 A convicted criminal, a convict. slang
- 3 A fraud; something carried out with the intention of deceiving, usually for personal, often illegal, gain. informal
"My heart is breaking for my sister And the con that she called "love""
- 4 Alternative form of conn (“navigational direction of a ship”). alt-of, alternative, uncountable
- 5 An organized gathering, such as a convention, conference, or congress. informal
"I can't speak for Faye as ed of FHAPA, but it would be really swell of someone could send us a set of Intersection daily newszines, plus any con flyers or other fannish papers that were there to had for the picking up: fannish things, you know, not including media, gaming, filking or costuming, fine fun but not my cup of blog, thank you."
Show 11 more definitions
- 6 The conversion of part of a building. informal
"We're getting a loft con done next year."
- 7 Consumption; pulmonary tuberculosis. informal, obsolete, uncountable
- 8 Squirrel, particularly the red squirrel. dialectal, obsolete
- 9 A political conservative. abbreviation
"own the cons"
- 10 Abbreviation of consolidation: only used in naming. abbreviation, alt-of, no-plural
- 11 Initialism of Certificate of Need. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 12 a swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property wordnet
- 13 A squirrel's nest. Northern-England, obsolete
- 14 Initialism of constitution point. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 15 an argument opposed to a proposal wordnet
- 16 a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison wordnet
Verb
- 1 To study or examine carefully, especially in order to gain knowledge of; to learn, or learn by heart. rare
"For Caſſius is a-weary of the World: / Hated by one he loues, brau'd by his Brother, / Check'd like a bondman, all his faults obſeru'd, / Set in a Note-booke, learn'd, and con'd by roate / To caſt into my Teeth."
- 2 To trick, lie or defraud, usually for personal gain. informal, transitive
"Neoliberalism has conned us into fighting climate change as individuals [title]"
- 3 Alternative form of conn (“direct a ship”). alt-of, alternative
- 4 commit to memory; learn by heart wordnet
- 5 To know; understand; acknowledge. obsolete, rare
"Of Muses Hobbinol, I conne no skill"
Show 1 more definition
- 6 deprive of by deceit wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Abbreviation of consolidated: only used in naming. abbreviation, alt-of, not-comparable
Adverb
- 1 in opposition to a proposition, opinion, etc. wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A male given name, a diminutive form of Conor or Cornelius.
- 2 Abbreviation of Conservative Party. UK, abbreviation, alt-of
- 3 A female given name, a diminutive form of Connie.
- 4 Abbreviation of Conservative. UK, abbreviation, alt-of
Example
"Con artists take advantage of the credulity of inexperienced investors and swindle them out of their money."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "con"?
Common synonyms include: convict, inmate, adventurous, adversary, adversative, adverse.
How do you use "con" in a sentence?
Con artists take advantage of the credulity of inexperienced investors and swindle them out of their money.
How do you pronounce "con"?
Pronounced /kɒn/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Etymology tree Middle English connen English con Inherited from Middle English connen, inherited from Old English cunnan (“to know, know how”), inherited from Proto-West Germanic *kunnan (“recognize, know how”), inherited from Proto-Germanic *kunnaną (“to know, know how”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (“to know”) Doublet of can.
Etymology 2
Abbreviation of Latin contrā (“against”).
Etymology 3
Clipping of convict.
Etymology 4
From con trick, shortened from confidence trick.
Etymology 5
From earlier cond; see conn.
Etymology 6
Clipping of convention or conference.
Etymology 7
Clipping of conversion.
Etymology 8
Clipping of consumption.
Etymology 9
Origin uncertain. Perhaps a clipping of Middle English acquerne, aquerne, ocquerne, okerne (“squirrel”), from Old English ācweorna, āqueorna, āquorna, ācurna (“squirrel”), from Proto-West Germanic *aikwernō, from Proto-Germanic *aikwernô (“squirrel”); or from its Old Norse cognate íkorni (“squirrel”), from the same ultimate source. Cognate with West Frisian iikhoarn (“squirrel”), Dutch eekhoorn (“squirrel”), German Eichhorn (“squirrel”), Icelandic íkorni (“squirrel”).
Etymology 10
Clipping of conservative; compare lib.
Etymology 11
Clipping of consolidation or consolidated.
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