short selling

US /ˈʃɔːrt ˌsel.ɪŋ/
UK /ˈʃɔːrt ˌsel.ɪŋ/
"short selling" picture
1.

the selling of shares that the seller does not own, with the intention of buying them back at a lower price and profiting from the difference

:
He made a fortune through short selling during the market downturn.
Regulators are looking into the ethics of short selling.