| a person, as a speculator, who sells short. |
Short Selling
The selling of a security that the seller does not own, or any sale that is completed by the delivery of a security borrowed by the seller. Short sellers assume that they will be able to buy the stock at a lower amount than the price at which they sold short.
Investopedia Commentary
Selling short is the opposite of going long. That is, short sellers make money if the stock goes down in price.
This is an advanced trading strategy with many unique risks and pitfalls. Novice investors are advised to avoid short sales.
Related Links
Short Selling Tutorial
Short Interest: What It Tells Us
The Short And Distort - Stock Manipulation In A Bear Market
See also: Bear, Bear Raid, Bull Market, Buy Back, Buy To Cover, Days to Cover, Naked Shorting, Short, Short Covering, Short Interest, Short Interest Ratio, Short Interest Theory, Short Sale Rule, Short Squeeze, Tick Test Rules, Zero Plus Tick
Also spelled: Sell Short, Shorting