double-dip

verb

dou·​ble-dip ˌdə-bəl-ˈdip How to pronounce double-dip (audio)
double-dipped; double-dipping; double-dips

intransitive verb

1
: to obtain money from two sources at the same time or by two separate accounting methods
Apparently, preferred shareholders get to double-dip. During the liquidation of the company, they get their money back first. Then they split the rest on a pro rata basis with us lowly common-stock holders.Mo Schumpeter
especially : to draw a pension from one government department while working for another
2
: to repeat the action of dipping a chip or other snack into a shared dipping sauce or mixture after taking a bite
But bring up nachos and suddenly everyone wants a place at the same table, the nacho table of peace—at least until someone tries to double-dip.Jeff Johnson
Everybody seems to double-dip at cocktail parties. Should I be concerned about the germs they leave behind?Jessica Rollins
double-dipper noun
plural double-dippers
Keegan was an academy graduate who had put in his thirty and retired to become a double-dipper. In uniform, he'd been an intelligence specialist, and now he had essentially the same job, which added civil service salary to his pension. Tom Clancy
An unabashed double-dipper, he's that rare neatnik who doesn't fear germs. Jennifer Tung
double-dipping noun
Most of the trusts are overseen by plaintiff lawyers … Can they be counted on to weed out double-dipping and false claims? Daniel Fisher
Double-dipping is gross, but it's unclear how bad it is for your health. One study did show there are more bacteria in the salsa after someone dunks twice, but they're the kind that normally live in our mouth and are pretty innocuous. Self

Examples of double-dip in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The bank illegally double-dipped on fees for customers with insufficient funds in their accounts, according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Ty Roush, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Like the two higher needs on this list, the draft is also another logical avenue for a double-dip upgrade strategy. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 12 Feb. 2024 What are the health risks associated with double-dipping? Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 12 Jan. 2024 Also double-dipping in the Non-English and Best Drama categories were Anatomy of a Fall (65 points) and The Zone of Interest (50 points). Joe Reid, Vulture, 14 Dec. 2023 The double-dip of actual data may surprise those who’ve been told repeatedly that college costs are spiraling out of control and that students are miserable, wallowing in regret for spending the time and money to go to college. Derek Newton, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 However, the company is double-dipping on this idea by also tying ads to generative AI on Fire TVs. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 8 Nov. 2023 As a result, animals see better at night by double-dipping their light. Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 26 Oct. 2023 Here are 19 games — one for every week, plus a double-dip this weekend, since the Lions are off — for a bird’s-eye view of the league: Week 1: Eagles at Patriots 4:25 p.m. Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 9 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'double-dip.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of double-dip was in 1971

Dictionary Entries Near double-dip

Cite this Entry

“Double-dip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double-dip. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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