con

C1 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /kɑn/ UK /kɒn/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like cone /ɑ/ vs /oʊ/

Freq #4276

Meanings

1

noun
A disadvantage of something, usually compared with its advantages.

We listed the pros and cons before making a decision.
2

noun
A trick or scheme meant to cheat someone, usually for money.

The investment turned out to be a clever con.
3

verb
To trick or cheat someone, usually for personal gain.

They conned her out of her life savings.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a disadvantage of... disadvantage

2 noun · a trick or scheme meant to... deception scam

3 verb · to trick or cheat someone,... deceive scam

Opposites

pro

Word family

Forms connedconningcons

Related forms aleconnerconnercouthcuddle cunningcunnykenunconned

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

con man
a man who gains people's trust in order to cheat them

Noun + noun

Idioms (1)

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pros and cons
the advantages and disadvantages of something

Proverbs (1)

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You can't con a con

Etymology

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”).

acquerne Middle English ācweorna Old English *aikwernō Proto-West Germanic *aikwernô Proto-Germanic

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Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# con

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /kɑn/
**IPA (UK):** /kɒn/
**Frequency rank:** 4276

## Meanings
1. A disadvantage of something, usually compared with its advantages.
2. A trick or scheme meant to cheat someone, usually for money.
3. To trick or cheat someone, usually for personal gain.

## Examples
- We listed the pros and cons before making a decision.
- The investment turned out to be a clever con.
- They conned her out of her life savings.

## Antonyms
- pro

## Related Forms
- aleconner
- conner
- couth
- cuddle
- cunning
- cunny
- ken
- unconned

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: acquerne
- Root: ācweorna
- Root: *aikwernō
- Root: *aikwernô

## Etymology
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”).

## AI Etymology
Con is of uncertain origin. 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”). In present-day use, it can mean a disadvantage of something, usually compared with its advantages, or a trick or scheme meant to cheat someone, usually for money.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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con

Meanings

Verb forms

Thesaurus

Appears in

Phrases (1)

Idioms (1)

Proverbs (1)

Etymology

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