Definition

A person who buys and sells things quickly, often tickets or stocks, to make a profit, usually by selling them at a higher price than they paid.

Example

The scalper sold concert tickets for three times their original price.

Conversation

Did you hear about that scalper selling concert tickets for three times the price?

Yeah, I can't believe people actually pay that much!

It's crazy! I’d rather wait for the tickets to go on sale normally.

Same here. I don't want to support those scalpers at all.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Scalper → The word 'scalper' originates from the term 'scalp' (from Old French *escalpe*, meaning to cut off the scalp) combined with the agent suffix '-er' (meaning a person who). A scalper is a person who cuts or removes something, often used in the context of reselling tickets or goods at a higher price.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who 'cuts off' ('scalp') and then 'sells' ('-er') something, like tickets, at a higher price. This helps you remember that a scalper is someone who resells tickets.

Visually Confused Words