Definition of the word sell out

The phrase "sell out" refers to someone who betrays their principles, beliefs, or values for personal gain or profit. The origin of this term can be traced back to the 1860s during the American West, where it was used to describe merchants who sold out their goods to Buyers at a lower price, violating their commitment to their customers. The term was also linked to the Gold Rush era, where miners abandoned their claims, which were later known as "sold out," to take easy profits from more productive sites. By the late 1800s, this expression evolved to incorporate political and social contexts, where it represented someone who compromised their integrity for political or ideological reasons. Over time, the meaning of sell out expanded to encompass any situation where someone surrenders their beliefs or values for selfish reasons, thus, becoming a derogatory term associated with dishonesty and indecency.