foist
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A thief or pickpocket.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The foist had lately arrived form the country and was known to be doing a thriving trade in and around Westminster Hall where many country folk and others came to see lawyers.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “foist” mean?
A thief or pickpocket.
Is “foist” formal or informal?
foist is generally slang.