Meaning

9 senses
  1. A disadvantage of something, especially when contrasted with its advantages (pros).

    pros and cons

    Kontra

    недоста́токnedostátok, до́вод про́тивdóvod prótiv, контраргуме́нтkontrargumént

  2. (slang)A convicted criminal, a convict.

    престу́пникprestúpnik, престу́пницаprestúpnica, осуждённыйosuždjónnyj

  3. (informal)A fraud; something carried out with the intention of deceiving, usually for personal, often illegal, gain.

    Bauernfängerei

    жу́льничествоžúlʹničestvo, моше́нничествоmošénničestvo, надува́тельствоnaduvátelʹstvo

  4. (informal)An organized gathering, such as a convention, conference, or congress.

  5. (informal)The conversion of part of a building.

    We're getting a loft con done next year.

  6. (abbreviation)A political conservative.

    own the cons

  7. (informal, obsolete, uncountable)Consumption; pulmonary tuberculosis.

  8. (dialectal, obsolete)Squirrel, particularly the red squirrel.

  9. (Northern England, obsolete)A squirrel's nest.

More definitions
  • an argument opposed to a proposal
  • a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
  • a swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property

Examples

74 sentences
  1. I'm an ex-con.

    Я сидів.

    ruЯ бывший зэк.

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  2. Tom is a con man.

    Том шархай.

    ruТом — мошенник.

    deTom ist ein Hochstapler.

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  3. Tom is a con artist.

    Том - шахрай.

    ruТом — мошенник.

    deTom ist ein Hochstapler.

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  4. Are you trying to con Tom?

    deWillst du Tom reinlegen?

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  5. Nobody knew Tom was an ex-con.

    deNiemand wusste, dass Tom ein ehemaliger Gefangener war.

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Translations

7 languages
Русский
By meaning 3
disadvantage of something:
a convicted criminal, a convict:
a fraud:
Deutsch
By meaning 2
disadvantage of something:
a fraud:

Origin

Abbreviation of Latin contrā (“against”). Clipping of convict. From con trick, shortened

Abbreviation of Latin contrā (“against”).

Clipping of convict.

From con trick, shortened from confidence trick.

Clipping of convention or conference.

Clipping of conversion.

Clipping of consumption.

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”).

Clipping of conservative; compare lib.

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con — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto