con.
To study or examine carefully, especially in order to gain knowledge of; to learn, or learn by heart.
Meaning & usage
To study or examine carefully, especially in order to gain knowledge of; to learn, or learn by heart.
To know; understand; acknowledge.
Where this word comes from
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- Proto-Indo-European *-né- Proto-Indo-European *ǵn̥néh₃ti Proto-Germanic *kunnaną Proto-West Germanic *kunnan Old English cunnan Middle English connen English con Inherited from Middle English connen, inherited from Old English cunnan (“to know, know how”), inherited from Proto-West Germanic *kunnan (“recognize, know how”), inherited from Proto-Germanic *kunnaną (“to know, know how”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (“to know”) Doublet of can.
A disadvantage of something, especially when contrasted with its advantages (pros).
pros and cons
Where this word comes from
Abbreviation of Latin contrā (“against”).
A convicted criminal, a convict.
Where this word comes from
Clipping of convict.
A fraud; something carried out with the intention of deceiving, usually for personal, often illegal, gain.
Where this word comes from
From con trick, shortened from confidence trick.
To trick, lie or defraud, usually for personal gain.
Where this word comes from
From con trick, shortened from confidence trick.
An organized gathering, such as a convention, conference, or congress.
Where this word comes from
Clipping of convention or conference.
The conversion of part of a building.
We're getting a loft con done next year.
Where this word comes from
Clipping of conversion.
Consumption; pulmonary tuberculosis.
Where this word comes from
Clipping of consumption.
Squirrel, particularly the red squirrel.
A squirrel's nest.
Where this word comes from
Origin uncertain. Perhaps a clipping of Middle English acquerne, aquerne, ocquerne, okerne (“squirrel”), from Old English ācweorna, āqueorna, āquorna, ācurna (“squirrel”), from Proto-West Germanic *aikwernō, from Proto-Germanic *aikwernô (“squirrel”); or from its Old Norse cognate íkorni (“squirrel”), from the same ultimate source. Cognate with West Frisian iikhoarn (“squirrel”), Dutch eekhoorn (“squirrel”), German Eichhorn (“squirrel”), Icelandic íkorni (“squirrel”).
Alternative form of conn (“direct a ship”).
Where this word comes from
From earlier cond; see conn.
Alternative form of conn (“navigational direction of a ship”).
Where this word comes from
From earlier cond; see conn.
A political conservative.
own the cons
Where this word comes from
Clipping of conservative; compare lib.
Abbreviation of consolidation: only used in naming.
Where this word comes from
Clipping of consolidation or consolidated.
Abbreviation of consolidated: only used in naming.
Where this word comes from
Clipping of consolidation or consolidated.
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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.
Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.