bunko
LowInformal, chiefly American; historical or specialized (police/crime contexts).
Definition
Meaning
A swindle or confidence trick, typically one in which victims are lured into a fraudulent gambling game.
A scheme or operation to cheat or defraud someone, often through elaborate deception. Can also refer to the fraudulent establishment or game itself. In law enforcement, a specific unit or squad investigating such crimes (e.g., 'bunko squad').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The spelling 'bunco' is equally common. The word is strongly associated with specific, often low-stakes, gambling frauds. Not to be confused with the unrelated Japanese loanword 'bunko' meaning a small book.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American. In British English, equivalent concepts would be referred to as a 'swindle', 'con', or 'scam'.
Connotations
In American usage, it evokes a classic, somewhat old-fashioned type of street-level fraud, often depicted in period films or police procedurals.
Frequency
Extremely rare in British English. Low frequency in American English, mostly found in historical, police, or crime-related contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] bunkoed [Object] out of [Money/Property][Subject] was arrested for running a bunko [on tourists]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “That's a bunch of bunko! (meaning: nonsense, a lie)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. May be used metaphorically for a fraudulent business proposal.
Academic
Rare, except in historical or criminology studies discussing fraud.
Everyday
Low frequency. 'He got bunkoed at the carnival' might be heard.
Technical
Used in law enforcement jargon to classify certain non-violent fraud crimes.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The conmen attempted to bunco the elderly gentleman out of his savings.
American English
- He bunkoed the tourists with the classic three-card monte scam.
adverb
British English
- (Not standardly used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not standardly used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- He was a known bunco artist operating in the city.
American English
- The detective worked in the bunko division for years.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The game was a bunko. They took his money.
- The police warned people about a bunko scheme targeting elderly homeowners.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BUNKO' rhymes with 'JUNKO' – as in junk, worthless, a fraudulent deal that leaves you with junk.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRIME/TRICKERY IS A GAME (bunko game, bunko artist).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'бунко' or similar sounds. It is not related to books or libraries. The closest concept is 'афера' or 'мошенничество'.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling confusion: 'bunco' vs. 'bunko'. Using it to mean a general mistake or error (it specifically implies fraud).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'bunko' MOST likely to be used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Bunko' is a specific type of scam, often a gambling-based confidence trick. 'Scam' is a much broader, more general term for any fraudulent scheme.
No, it's relatively low frequency and has a somewhat old-fashioned or specialized (police jargon) feel. 'Scam' or 'con' are more common in everyday speech.
Yes, though less common than the noun. 'To bunko someone' means to swindle or defraud them, usually in a specific, trick-based manner.
Both are accepted. The origin is uncertain (possibly from Spanish 'banco', meaning bank, as in the card game 'banco'), leading to variation in Anglicized spelling.