scam
A fraudulent or dishonest deal. A swindle.
Noun 2 meanings
A fraudulent or dishonest deal. A swindle.
“That marketing scheme looks like a scam to me.”
Something that is promoted using scams.
“That new diet burger is a scam.”
Verb 1 meaning
To defraud or embezzle.
“They tried to scam her out of her savings.”
Etymology
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.
Similar and opposite words
SCAM at a glance
SCAM has 4 letters and scores 8 points in Scrabble (S 1 + C 3 + A 1 + M 3) and 10 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #7,723 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with scam
All rhymes- WEBCAM15
- DASHCAM15
- STEADICAM14
- OCCAM11
- BODYCAM17
- DIGICAM13
- MINICAM13
- VIDEOCAM16
- CAIMACAM16
- PHONECAM17
One letter away
Keep going
Related lists
Looking for a different word?
Type the letters you have and the Finder shows every word that fits.