Abscam means: A code name for a sting operation set up by the FBI in the 1970s to thwart bribery in Congress.. The word is mostly archaic or historical; you will only encounter it in old texts, period drama, or school history rather than current teen conversation. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour.
Abscam
(US, historical) A code name for a sting operation set up by the FBI in the 1970s to thwart bribery in Congress.
Definitions
Global
#1·Apr 27, 2026Global
(US, historical) A code name for a sting operation set up by the FBI in the 1970s to thwart bribery in Congress.
Origin: Short for Arab scam, later re-explained as Abdul scam after the name of the fictitious company involved, in response to complaints from the American-Arab Relations Committee. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents
Abscam means: A code name for a sting operation set up by the FBI in the 1970s to thwart bribery in Congress.. The word is mostly archaic or historical; you will only encounter it in old texts, period drama, or school history rather than current teen conversation. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour.
For ESL learners
Abscam means: A code name for a sting operation set up by the FBI in the 1970s to thwart bribery in Congress.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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🗺️About Regional & Other slang
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
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Other words near "Abscam" (A)
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