pimp

1 of 2

noun

ˈpimp 

plural pimps

: a person and especially a man who controls one or more sex workers, arranges clients for them, and takes a cut of their earnings

pimp

2 of 2

verb

pimped; pimping; pimps

transitive verb

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

… fans of the car have "pimped their ride" through the use of … outlandish paint jobs and faintly ridiculous gull-wing doors.

—Professional Engineering

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 out

This is a parallel world where teenagers pimp out their motorboats, customizing them with dazzling LED lights and powerful stereo systems …

—Leo Barraclough

Foreign 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

intransitive verb

: to work as a pimp

Synonyms of pimp

Noun

• cadet
• procurer

Verb

• use
• abuse
• exploit
• leverage
• manipulate

Examples of pimp in a Sentence

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 Web

Noun

The alleged pimp, Kevin Mays, was an assistant men’s basketball coach and former player at Cal State Bakersfield. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026

In season four, Rishi is working as a scummy for-hire researcher and pimp. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026

Verb

Mays faces 11 charges, including pimping, possession of automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines, and possession of methamphetamine and marijuana with intent to sell. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026

During their investigation, officers charged Li with pimping and keeping a place of prostitution. —Dan Raby, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026

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

1780, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1640, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for pimp

• blimp
• chimp
• crimp
• imp
• limp
• shrimp
• skimp
• wimp

Legal Definition

pimp

1 of 2 noun

ˈpimp 

: one who derives income from the earnings of a prostitute usually by soliciting business compare panderer

pimp

2 of 2 intransitive verb

: to work as a pimp compare pandering