# con

/ˈkɑn/ (US) · /kˈɒn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/con
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a disadvantage

noun · CEFR B2

a reason not to do something, or a negative part of a situation.

For teachers: an argument or evidence against a particular proposition, typically paired with 'pros'.

- We weighed the pros and cons of moving to a smaller apartment.
- Before committing to the merger, the board spent weeks analyzing every potential con that could impact their long-term share price.

### 2. a trick or fraud

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a trick used to deceive someone, usually to get their money.

For teachers: a swindle or fraudulent scheme designed to cheat a victim out of money or property.

- The investment opportunity turned out to be a clever con.
- The elaborate con involved multiple actors and fake documents, leaving the investors with no legal recourse once the money vanished.

### 3. a prisoner

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

a short way to say 'convict' or someone who is in prison.

For teachers: a person serving a prison sentence; a shortened form of 'convict'.

- He spent ten years in a high-security prison with other hardened cons.
- The documentary explores the challenges ex-cons face when attempting to reintegrate into the workforce after decades of incarceration.

### 4. a convention

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a short way to say 'convention', like a big meeting for fans of movies or games.

For teachers: a large gathering or convention, particularly one centered on a specific hobby or subculture.

- Thousands of fans dressed up as superheroes for the comic con.
- The annual gaming con has grown so large that it now requires the city's entire exhibition center to house the vendors.

### 5. to trick someone

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to trick or lie to someone to get something from them.

For teachers: to persuade someone to do or believe something by lying or using deceit.

- He tried to con me into buying a broken car.
- The salesman managed to con the elderly couple out of their life savings by promising guaranteed returns on a fake gold mine.

Usage: Often takes the form 'to con someone out of something'.

## Examples

- The cheap vacation offer turned out to be a con.
- Before signing the lease, we sat down to list every pro and con of moving to the city center.
- The elaborate con involved several actors and a fake office, convincing the investors that they were participating in a legitimate real estate development project.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.