Nigerian prince en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /naɪˌdʒɪəɹɪən ˈpɹɪns/
- /naɪˌdʒɪɹiən ˈpɹɪns/
Etymology
Derived from the early instances of advance fee scams in which the perpetrator of the scam would send potential victims an email claiming to be a Nigerian prince seeking to transfer a large amount of money into their country.
Meanings
-
A cheat who seeks to obtain money through advance fee scams.
Today, in an increasingly interconnected world, a person is more likely to be robbed by a “Nigerian prince” on the Internet than a masked street thug.
2012, Peter M. Haas, John A. Hird, Controversies in Globalization: Contending Approaches to International Relations, CQ Press, page 219:I fell for a Nigerian prince scam
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see Nigerian, prince.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigerian princes | Number=Plur | lexicographic |