To sell something, especially securities, that one does not own at the moment for delivery at a later date in hopes of profiting from a decline in the price; to sell short
(noun) One who has sold futures contracts or plans to purchase a cash commodity (verb) Selling futures contracts or initiating a cash forward contract sale without offsetting a particular market position
Jargon for sale of a stock, option, or other security that the seller does not actually own If you sell shares of a stock that you don't own but rather borrowed, you are said to have a "short position" or to "be short" that stock See also long