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: a criminal who is associated with, usually exerts control over, and lives off the earnings of one or more prostitutes
pimped; pimping; pimps
1
: to make use of often dishonorably for one's own gain or benefit
2
informal
: to customize and adorn (something, such as a car or apartment) in an ostentatious or lavish way
Their backhoe had four spotlights on a bar above the cab, the same way kids pimped their pick-up trucks, and together the four beams made a wide pool of halogen brightness.—
Lee Child
—often used with outLee Child This is a parallel world where teenagers pimp out their motorboats, customizing them with dazzling LED lights and powerful stereo systems …—Leo BarracloughForeign buyers—many of them anonymous—have poured cash into Miami's real-estate market for years. Think mansions priced at over $20 million, condos pimped out with private rooftop pools, and spec houses with wild extras.—Raisa Bruner
Leo BarracloughForeign buyers—many of them anonymous—have poured cash into Miami's real-estate market for years. Think mansions priced at over $20 million, condos pimped out with private rooftop pools, and spec houses with wild extras.—Raisa Bruner
: to work as a pimp
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Noun
the sting operation nabbed 15 prostitutes and two pimps
Verb
a movie actress who pimped everybody she ever met as she clawed her way to the top
Recent Examples on the WebIoana Erdei, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2023
As for the other bodies, possibly Dominic (Michael Imperioli) and Lucia, the pimp being an actual danger, after all.
—Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2022
One day, the pimp saw her on the street and tried to abduct her.
—Absurdity, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2022
The cast includes Val Kilmer (as an imaginary Elvis), Gary Oldman (as a pimp named Drexel), Dennis Hopper, Christopher Walken, Brad Pitt and more.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023
Cube talking reckless, Too $hort as the pimp with a heart of gold, E-40’s deep slanguage, and smooth ol’ Uncle Snoop: this is Mount Westmore’s appeal to their graying base.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2022
Albie had taken up with a local prostitute, Lucia (Simona Tabasco), who, unbeknownst to him, had also slept with his father, and who was being followed by her apparent pimp.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2022
Here's the thing: Lucia definitely doesn't have a pimp who's threatening her.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 8 Dec. 2022
The book was all about a pimp and trying to start a whorehouse.
—Andrew Goldman, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2022
USA Today, 19 Jan. 2023
Another is nightclub promoter and pimp Paul Snider, played by Dan Stevens.
—Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2022
The two women join forces against the king’s desire to pimp his daughter out to a rich aristocrat, and the royal physician’s plan to separate the mermaid from whatever internal organs contain her magical power.
—Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 20 Jan. 2022
Prosecutors charged him under the Mann Act, a 100-year-old federal law intended today to prosecute the human traffickers who cross state lines to pimp out women.
—Tim Prudente, baltimoresun.com, 27 Sep. 2021
The golden rules of baseball -- don't have fun, don't pimp home runs, don't play with character.
—Scottie Andrew And Jillian Martin, CNN, 30 June 2020
On the show, Henry Willson (Jim Parsons) brings Rock Hudson (Jake Picking) to one of Cukor's famous Sunday parties, in essence seeking to pimp him out to Hollywood producers to get his new client an audition.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 5 May 2020
Since when did the Kentucky House of Representatives start pimping for Hallmark?
—Joseph Gerth, The Courier-Journal, 14 Feb. 2020
On December 16, detectives in South Florida arrested G4S guard Sebastien Noel and charged him with pimping an underaged girl out of the hotel he was supposed to be guarding.
—USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2020
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Noun
The bombastic, wheeling-and-dealing, pimp-like identity Tate has created is, according to his supporters, simply an act intended to advance his mythos.
—Ioana Erdei, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2023
As for the other bodies, possibly Dominic (Michael Imperioli) and Lucia, the pimp being an actual danger, after all.
—Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2022
One day, the pimp saw her on the street and tried to abduct her.
—Absurdity, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2022
The cast includes Val Kilmer (as an imaginary Elvis), Gary Oldman (as a pimp named Drexel), Dennis Hopper, Christopher Walken, Brad Pitt and more.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023
Cube talking reckless, Too $hort as the pimp with a heart of gold, E-40’s deep slanguage, and smooth ol’ Uncle Snoop: this is Mount Westmore’s appeal to their graying base.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2022
Albie had taken up with a local prostitute, Lucia (Simona Tabasco), who, unbeknownst to him, had also slept with his father, and who was being followed by her apparent pimp.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2022
Here's the thing: Lucia definitely doesn't have a pimp who's threatening her.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 8 Dec. 2022
The book was all about a pimp and trying to start a whorehouse.
—Andrew Goldman, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2022
Verb
Looking back, Shirley wonders if her husband intended to pimp her all along.
—USA Today, 19 Jan. 2023
Another is nightclub promoter and pimp Paul Snider, played by Dan Stevens.
—Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2022
The two women join forces against the king’s desire to pimp his daughter out to a rich aristocrat, and the royal physician’s plan to separate the mermaid from whatever internal organs contain her magical power.
—Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 20 Jan. 2022
Prosecutors charged him under the Mann Act, a 100-year-old federal law intended today to prosecute the human traffickers who cross state lines to pimp out women.
—Tim Prudente, baltimoresun.com, 27 Sep. 2021
The golden rules of baseball -- don't have fun, don't pimp home runs, don't play with character.
—Scottie Andrew And Jillian Martin, CNN, 30 June 2020
On the show, Henry Willson (Jim Parsons) brings Rock Hudson (Jake Picking) to one of Cukor's famous Sunday parties, in essence seeking to pimp him out to Hollywood producers to get his new client an audition.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 5 May 2020
Since when did the Kentucky House of Representatives start pimping for Hallmark?
—Joseph Gerth, The Courier-Journal, 14 Feb. 2020
On December 16, detectives in South Florida arrested G4S guard Sebastien Noel and charged him with pimping an underaged girl out of the hotel he was supposed to be guarding.
—USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2020
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pimp.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
probably akin to British dialect pimp small bundle of sticks, Middle English pymple papule, German Pimpf young boy, kid, literally, little fart, Pumpf, Pumps fart
First Known Use
Noun
1701, in the meaning defined above
Verb
circa 1640, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Articles Related to pimp
Dictionary Entries Near pimp
Cite this Entry
“Pimp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pimp. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.
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