# Vincent

/ˈvɪnsənt/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. male name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a man.

For teachers: a masculine given name derived from the Latin 'Vincentius', meaning 'conquering'.

- My friend Vincent is coming over for dinner tonight.
- The artist Vincent van Gogh is perhaps the most famous historical figure to bear the name.

### 2. victim of a trick

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Slang

a person who is cheated or tricked in a game.

For teachers: the victim or dupe in a betting game or confidence trick. Historically used in Elizabethan underworld cant.

- The street performers looked for a vincent who would lose his money in their game.
- In the specialized language of Renaissance con artists, the 'vincent' was the primary target intended to be fleeced during a rigged game of bowls.

Usage: Usually used with the definite article 'the'.

## Examples

- Can you lend me a Vincent until tomorrow?
- He reached into his wallet and pulled out a Vincent to pay for the round of drinks.
- While the term is less common among younger generations, older market traders still occasionally refer to a twenty-pound note as a Vincent during quick cash transactions.

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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.