Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

swindle

Syllabification: (swin·dle)
Pronunciation: /ˈswindl/

Translate swindle | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of swindle

verb

[with object]
  • use deception to deprive (someone) of money or possessions:a businessman swindled investors out of millions of dollars
  • obtain (money) fraudulently:he was said to have swindled $62.5 million from the pension fund

noun

  • a fraudulent scheme or action:he is mixed up in a $10 million insurance swindle

Derivatives

swindler

noun

Origin:

late 18th century: back-formation from swindler, from German Schwindler 'extravagant maker of schemes, swindler', from schwindeln 'be giddy', also 'tell lies'

swindle in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of swindle in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite

More words in this category

Word of the day

secretagogue

/ sɪˈkriːtəgɒg /
noun
a substance which promotes secretion …