pyramid scheme

[pir-uh-mid skeem]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any moneymaking scheme, usually illicit, in which each participating investor recruits others and then collects from what those invest, so that an ever-increasing number of participants generate more and more profit for those who recruited them.
She invited me to talk about a new "business opportunity," and ended up trying aggressively to hook me into a pyramid scheme.

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First recorded in 1945–50

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Examples have not been reviewed.

I believe the American dream has become a pyramid scheme.

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And the industry wants to distance itself from multiple marketing, from a pyramid scheme.

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The problem is that defined pensions are a bit of a pyramid scheme: New workers need to constantly enter and contribute to support current retirees.

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Mr Singh said they began to realise the agents operated like a pyramid scheme.

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A classic example would be people in a pyramid scheme targeting fellow members of their church.

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