bunco

noun

bun·​co ˈbəŋ-(ˌ)kō How to pronounce bunco (audio)
variants or bunko
plural buncos or bunkos
: a swindling game or scheme
bunco transitive verb

Examples of bunco in a Sentence

they were experts at that bunco, having fleeced wide-eyed tourists for years
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
There have been bunco parties, Ice Queen birthday parties, and whatever the hell NeNe’s Girls & Gays Never Forget All-White Party Seafood Soirée was. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2024 The event includes bunco, a silent auction and barbecue lunch. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024 The tragedy also strengthened community bonds, with families who didn’t lose homes hosting families that did for weeks at a time, and bunco and happy hour groups forming among new friends who had barely known each other before the blaze. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2023 Women’s club hosting bunco fundraisers The Sweetwater Women’s Club hosts bunco from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, starting Aug. 8, at 3855 Sweetwater Road. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2023 Women’s Club hosting bunco fundraisers The Sweetwater Women’s Club hosts bunco from 1 to 3:30 p.m. monthly on the second Tuesday of the month starting Aug. 8 at 3855 Sweetwater Road, Bonita. Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2023 By nightfall, there was just one activity left on the agenda: a game of bunco. New York Times, 12 Feb. 2021 But at least Biden officials have become alert to the risks of the defense establishment’s indulgence of the UFO bunco. WSJ, 2 Dec. 2022 The group organizes weekly and monthly events including dinners, dances, bingo and bunco. Gustavo Solis, sandiegouniontribune.com, 14 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

perhaps alteration of Spanish banca bench, banking, bank in gambling, from Italian — more at bank

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bunco was in 1872

Dictionary Entries Near bunco

Cite this Entry

“Bunco.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bunco. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

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