Scam
/skæm/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA dishonest plan used to trick people and take their money.
Extra definitions
noun; verbA dishonest money scheme.
noun; verbA fraudulent offer.
noun; verbAn attempt to trick someone.
Sentence Examples
The email was a scam.
She reported the investment scam.
Beware of a scam caller.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
None
Antonyms:
None
Word Origin & History
US American carnival slang of uncertain origin. Possibly from scamp (“swindler, cheater”) or Irish cam (“crooked”). Also possibly from Danish skam; if so, it would be a doublet of shame and sham. First use appears c. 1963 in the periodical Time. The word became common use among the US drug culture when in early 1980, after Operation ABSCAM, an FBI sting operation directed at public officials, became public.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
“His friend nudged me. "It's true. JJ only scams black ladies." / "You don't say?" / "J-boy scammed a real live Miss Black Universe once. Met her in a disco down in Honduras. Wearing her title. Since then he's been obsessed."”
— 2005, Robert Antoni, Carnival, New York, N.Y.: Black Cat, →ISBN, page 54:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The email was a ____.