# Ponzi

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈpɒnzi/ · frequency rank #31,711

## Definitions
1. Pertaining to a scheme whereby investors' returns are paid for directly by later investors' investments, giving the false impression that the investment is viable.

## Etymology
Named after con artist Charles Ponzi (1882–1949) who notoriously ran such type of scam.

## Easily confused with
- **poi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poi-vs-ponzi)
- **pon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pon-vs-ponzi)
- **pond** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pond-vs-ponzi)
- **pony** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pony-vs-ponzi)
- **pong** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pong-vs-ponzi)
- **pons** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pons-vs-ponzi)
- **ponce** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponce-vs-ponzi)
- **Ponte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponte-vs-ponzi)

## Common misspellings (7)
`opnzi`, `pnozi`, `poniz`, `ponnzi`, `ponzzi`, `pozni`, `pponzi`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ponzi