Definition of foist
transitive verb
1a : to introduce or insert surreptitiously or without warrantb : to force another to accept especially by stealth or deceit when the states … foist unnecessary expenses on local taxpayers — T. C. Desmond
2 : to pass off as genuine or worthy foist costly and valueless products on the public — Jonathan Spivak … inferior caviar has been foisted on an unknowing public … — David Rosengarten
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Examples of foist in a Sentence
shopkeepers who foist shoddy souvenirs on unsuspecting tourists
Recent Examples of foist from the Web
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But Tuesday’s show painted a different musical picture — one of a woman who long ago unfastened herself from the limitations of labels foisted upon her: Alternative.
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In addition to the awkward Abe shake, Trump has foisted his unusual tug-and-pull style on other high-profile figures, including Vice President Mike Pence and Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.
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A bill to foist a new multi-million-dollar provider tax on hospitals—which would help fund the state's contribution to Medicaid -- was passed this week by Oregon lawmakers.
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Emanuel has tried to frame Police Department reforms in the wake of the report as changes the officers want and need, rather than something being foisted on them because of the spotlight on the city from the Laquan McDonald police shooting.
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VanLoh’s approach steeled the resolve of critics who would emerge on the KCI debate, those who felt like City Hall was going to foist airport expenses upon residents.
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Or maybe the problem has been the talent foisted on the coach by the management wonks.
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Before Republicans foisted independent counsel Kenneth Starr on the Clintons, the first family was the focus of an investigation by a DOJ special counsel named Robert Fiske.
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But places like Wal-Mart sell ugly produce at a discount, while you were foisted off full price, no choice.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'foist.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
An early sense of the word foist, now obsolete, referred to palming a phony die and secretly introducing it into a game at an opportune time. The action involved in this cheating tactic reflects the etymology of foist. The word is believed to derive from the obsolete Dutch verb vuisten, meaning "to take into one's hand." "Vuisten" in turn comes from "vuyst," the Middle Dutch word for "fist" which itself is distantly related to the Old English ancestor of "fist." By the late 16th century "foist" was being used in English to mean "to insert surreptitiously," and it quickly acquired the meaning "to force another to accept by stealth or deceit."
Origin and Etymology of foist
probably from obsolete Dutch vuisten to take into one's hand, from Middle Dutch vuysten, from vuyst fist; akin to Old English fȳst fist
FOIST Defined for English Language Learners
foist
playDefinition of foist for English Language Learners
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: to force someone to accept (something that is not good or not wanted)
Learn More about foist
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See words that rhyme with foist Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for foist Spanish Central: Translation of foist Nglish: Translation of foist for Spanish speakers
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