How Do You Spell CON?

Pronunciation: [kˈɒn] (IPA)

The word "con" is often used as a prefix, meaning "against" or "negative." The spelling of this word is relatively simple, with only three letters. Its pronunciation is typically represented as /kɒn/ in IPA phonetic transcription, indicating a short "o" sound and a hard "k" sound. While some English words with the "con" prefix may have origins in Latin, such as "contradict" or "confer," many are also derived from Greek, such as "conjecture" or "convex."

CON Meaning and Definition

  1. Con is a noun that refers to a fraudulent or deceitful act, or a person who engages in deceit or dishonesty for personal gain. It is commonly used as a shortened form of the word "confidence trick" or "confidence game," originating from the late 19th century with some roots in the term "confidence man." The term con often implies a deliberate plan to deceive someone, typically through persuasion or misrepresentation, for monetary or other advantages.

    A con can encompass various fraudulent schemes such as scams, swindles, or confidence tricks, where the perpetrator gains the trust or confidence of the victim to exploit them financially or in other ways. Cons can involve various techniques such as manipulation, false representations, impersonation, or the use of elaborate stories to gain the victim's trust and convince them to hand over money, possessions, or sensitive information.

    The term con can also be used as a verb, meaning to deceive or trick someone for personal gain. It is often associated with actions aimed at exploiting the trust, innocence, or naivety of others. Examples of cons include Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, fake lotteries, identity theft, or online phishing scams.

    Overall, the term con refers to acts or individuals involved in fraudulent activities or practices, emphasizing the intent to deceive and exploit others for personal gain.

Common Misspellings for CON

Etymology of CON

The word "con" has a few different etymological origins, depending on its meaning:

1. As a verb meaning to deceive or trick: of "con" comes from the verb "confidence trick", which was shortened to "con trick" in British English around the late 19th century. It referred to a fraudulent or deceptive act done by gaining the trust or confidence of someone.

- The abbreviation "con" was derived from "confidence trick", and it became widely used to describe any type of deception or swindle.

2. As a noun meaning a disadvantage or disadvantageous position:

- This usage of "con" has its roots in the Old English word "cunnan", meaning "to know" or "to be able". In Old English, "con" meant knowledge or understanding, but over time it evolved to refer specifically to knowledge of disadvantage or harmful situations.

Idioms with the word CON

  • con sm into sth The idiom "con someone into something" means to deceive or trick someone into doing or believing something that they would not normally do or believe. It involves convincing or persuading someone using dishonest or manipulative tactics.
  • con artist The idiom "con artist" refers to a person who is skilled at manipulating and deceiving others, typically for personal gain. They often use cunning strategies and persuasive tactics to trick or defraud unsuspecting individuals.
  • con man The idiom "con man" refers to an individual who is skilled in the art of deception and fraud, often using charm, persuasion, and manipulation to gain the trust and confidence of others in order to exploit them financially or otherwise. A con man is essentially a professional swindler or confidence trickster who operates by deceit and dishonesty.
  • con (someone) into (something) The idiom "con (someone) into (something)" means to deceive or trick someone into doing something or being convinced of something, usually for personal gain or advantage. It involves persuading or manipulating someone through dishonest or misleading tactics.
  • con job The idiom "con job" refers to a deceitful or fraudulent act carried out by someone in order to manipulate or trick others for personal gain. It implies a scheme or scam that is skillfully designed to deceive the victim, often involving persuasion or misrepresentation. The term "con" is short for "confidence," indicating that the scammer gains the trust or confidence of the victim before taking advantage of them.
  • con into The idiom "con into" means to persuade or trick someone into doing something they don't want to do or should not do, often through manipulative or deceitful means. It involves using deception or flattery to gain compliance or agreement from someone.
  • put a con on someone To "put a con on someone" means to deceive or trick someone, typically by gaining their trust or playing on their vulnerabilities for personal gain. It involves manipulating someone into believing something that is false or misleading, often with the intention of getting money or other advantages from them.
  • con (someone) out of (something) The idiom "con (someone) out of (something)" means to deceive, trick, or persuade someone through manipulation or deceitful tactics to give up or lose something valuable, typically involving money or possessions.
  • con sm out of sth The idiom "con someone out of something" means to deceive or trick someone in order to obtain something from them, typically through fraudulent or manipulative means. It implies persuading or misleading the person into giving up something valuable, such as money, possessions, or rights, for the benefit of the person executing the con.
  • chili con car·ne Chili con carne is a spicy stew made with chili peppers, meat, beans, and other ingredients. It is a traditional dish in Tex-Mex cuisine.
  • (or chil′e) con car′ne "(or chil′e) con car′ne" is a Spanish term that translates to "chili with meat" in English. It refers to a spicy stew made with chili peppers, beans, and meat, typically beef, and often enjoyed with toppings such as cheese, sour cream, and onions.

Similar spelling words for CON

Plural form of CON is CONS

Conjugate verb Con

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be coning
you would be coning
he/she/it would be coning
we would be coning
they would be coning

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have conned
you would have conned
he/she/it would have conned
we would have conned
they would have conned
I would have con
you would have con
he/she/it would have con
we would have con
they would have con

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been coning
you would have been coning
he/she/it would have been coning
we would have been coning
they would have been coning

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been conning
you would have been conning
he/she/it would have been conning
we would have been conning
they would have been conning

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would con
you would con
he/she/it would con
we would con
they would con

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be conning
you would be conning
he/she/it would be conning
we would be conning
they would be conning

FUTURE

I will con
you will con
he/she/it will con
we will con
they will con

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be conning
you will be conning
he/she/it will be conning
we will be conning
they will be conning
I will be coning
you will be coning
he/she/it will be coning
we will be coning
they will be coning

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have conned
you will have conned
he/she/it will have conned
we will have conned
they will have conned
I will have coned
you will have coned
he/she/it will have coned
we will have coned
they will have coned

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been conning
you will have been conning
he/she/it will have been conning
we will have been conning
they will have been conning
I will have been coning
you will have been coning
he/she/it will have been coning
we will have been coning
they will have been coning

IMPERATIVE

you con
we let´s con

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to con

PAST

I coned
you coned
he/she/it coned
we coned
they coned

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was conning
you were conning
he/she/it was conning
we were conning
they were conning
I was coning
you were coning
he/she/it was coning
we were coning
they were coning

PAST PARTICIPLE

conned
coned

PAST PERFECT

I had conned
you had conned
he/she/it had conned
we had conned
they had conned
I had coned
you had coned
he/she/it had coned
we had coned
they had coned

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been conning
you had been conning
he/she/it had been conning
we had been conning
they had been conning
I had been coning
you had been coning
he/she/it had been coning
we had been coning
they had been coning

PRESENT

I con
you con
he/she/it cons
we con
they con

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am conning
you are conning
he/she/it is conning
we are conning
they are conning
I am coning
you are coning
he/she/it is coning
we are coning
they are coning

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

conning
coning

PRESENT PERFECT

I have conned
you have conned
he/she/it has conned
we have conned
they have conned
I have coned
you have coned
he/she/it has coned
we have coned
they have coned

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been conning
you have been conning
he/she/it has been conning
we have been conning
they have been conning
I have been coning
you have been coning
he/she/it has been coning
we have been coning
they have been coning

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it con

SIMPLE PAST

I conned
you conned
he/she/it conned
we conned
they conned

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