What does shafted mean?
Shafted is an adjective with two main uses. In chiefly British informal English, it means cheated, swindled, or treated unfairly, and it can express annoyance or indignation: “I was shafted by the contractor.” The literal sense means provided with a shaft, especially an arrow, spear, or similar implement. This use appears in formal descriptions of weapons and equipment: “The shafted arrow lay beside the bow.” Shafted therefore shifts readily from the physical construction of an object to the figurative idea of being badly done by. It is not the same as “shifted,” despite the similar spelling. The word is relatively uncommon, but once understood it is memorable because the same simple physical image can carry a strongly disparaging colloquial meaning.
adjectiveHaving or fitted with a shaft, especially an arrow, spear, or similar implement. In chiefly British informal English, it also means cheated, swindled, or treated unfairly.
- In chiefly British informal usage, cheated, swindled, or treated unfairly.
- Provided with or possessing a shaft, especially as an arrow, spear, or other long implement.
"The buyer complained that he had been shafted by the dishonest seller."
"They shafted me over the contract and kept my deposit."
"The museum display included a shafted spear and several medieval arrows."
It can describe a perfectly equipped arrow—or, in British informal English, the unpleasant experience of being cheated.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shafted come from?
English shafted was formed from shaft, an Old English word related to the long stem or handle of a weapon or implement, together with the suffix -ed. The suffix forms an adjective meaning “provided with” or “having” a shaft. The informal sense meaning “cheated” developed from the verb shaft, “to cheat or swindle,” and is chiefly associated with British English.
How shafted is actually used
The figurative sense is informal, usually disparaging, and common in British English; it may be insulting when used directly of a person. The literal sense is more typical of formal, historical, or technical descriptions of arrows, spears, and similar objects.
Easily confused with shafted
Shafted means fitted with a shaft or, informally, cheated, whereas shifted means moved or altered.