Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Grift

//ɡɹɪft// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A confidence game or swindle. US, slang

    "Hey, what's the grift? What are you trying to pull?"

Verb
  1. 1
    To obtain illegally, as by con game. US, slang, transitive
  2. 2
    To obtain money illegally. US, intransitive, slang
  3. 3
    To obtain money immorally or through deceitful means. US, intransitive, slang

Etymology

Etymology 1

American criminal underworld slang, 1906 (noun), 1915 (verb), alteration of graft (“corruption, illicit profit through corrupt means, bribe, one's occupation”), alteration perhaps influenced by similar sounding words, e.g. drift, etc., probably ultimately from Middle Dutch graft (“digging, ditch, canal, trench”) (modern Dutch gracht), related to Dutch graven (“to dig”), English grave (“to dig”).

Etymology 2

American criminal underworld slang, 1906 (noun), 1915 (verb), alteration of graft (“corruption, illicit profit through corrupt means, bribe, one's occupation”), alteration perhaps influenced by similar sounding words, e.g. drift, etc., probably ultimately from Middle Dutch graft (“digging, ditch, canal, trench”) (modern Dutch gracht), related to Dutch graven (“to dig”), English grave (“to dig”).

See also for "grift"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: grift