Legal Definitions - cozening

Cozening (pronounced kuh-zuh-ning) is a dishonest practice that involves cheating or fraudulent dealing. It is also known as cosening. In the past, it was an offense that was not specifically named, but it was considered a serious offense.

According to John Cowell's book, The Interpreter, cozening is a type of deceitful practice that can occur in or out of contracts. It is a form of fraud that cannot be fitly termed by any special name. In the civil law, it is called stellionatus.

Examples of cozening include:

• A salesman who lies about the quality of a product to make a sale
• A contractor who overcharges for a job and does not complete the work as promised
• A person who forges a signature on a contract to make it seem like someone agreed to something they did not

These examples illustrate how cozening involves dishonesty and deception. It is a deliberate attempt to cheat or defraud someone for personal gain.