Winner's Curse
nounwin·ner's cursepronounced WIN-ərz KERS
Last reviewed 16 April 2026
What does the noun Winner's Curse mean?
The tendency for the winner of a competitive auction to have overpaid relative to the item's true value, because they had the most optimistic valuation among all bidders. In property auctions, competitive pressure and time urgency can amplify this effect.
How the noun Winner's Curse is used
He got caught up in the auction and paid $60K over his limit — a classic case of the winner's curse that left him regretting the purchase for months.
Related words
Cite this entry
MLA citation: "Winner's Curse." How to Property, 16 Apr. 2026, https://howtoproperty.com.au/definitions/winners-curse. Accessed 30 May 2026.
Chicago citation: How to Property. "Winner's Curse." Last modified April 16, 2026. https://howtoproperty.com.au/definitions/winners-curse.
APA citation: How to Property. (2026, April 16). Winner's Curse. https://howtoproperty.com.au/definitions/winners-curse