rigged

adjective

ˈrigd 

1

: manipulated or controlled by deceptive or dishonest means

a rigged election

Attempts to pass a rigged repatriation bill are exhibit A of what enrages Americans about Washington and Wall Street.

—Brent Budowsky

His reluctance stemmed not from a lack of mercy but from his sense that pardons were a rigged game, tilted in favor of offenders with political connections.

—Massimo Calabresi et al.

2

: fitted out with rigging of a specified kind

The Cornish lugger was a small, two-masted, fore-and-aft rigged boat.

—Mark Kurlansky

When she enters service in the fall of 1999, only the second five-masted full rigged ship ever built, she will bear the moniker of "the largest true sailing ship afloat today."

—Kevin Haydon

Examples of rigged in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The losing side is likely to caulk off the outcome to a rigged system. —Chris Jackson, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2024

So far, Trump has declined to commit to the peaceful transfer of power, after having falsely claimed that his 2020 loss was the result of a rigged election, a claim that helped encourage the 2021 insurrection. —Fatima Hussein, Twin Cities, 1 Nov. 2024

In some corners of the GOP, those in jails or prisons for actions related to Jan. 6—including those who attacked law enforcement with weapons—are martyrs to a rigged political system. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024

Hidden fees, deceptive photos, and rigged reviews are some of the pitfalls to watch out for when booking vacation rentals. —Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1500, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing rigged

• jerry-rigged
• square-rigged