Highly valued new business runs to stop university scam

Latest answer — September 19, 2026

14 Down

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

A UNICORN is a highly valued new business. UNI is short for university, followed by CON, a scam, taking R, the abbreviation for runs: C O(R)N.

Clue type:
Abbreviation
A stylized unicorn representing a highly valued startup company

Times Quick Cryptic Crossword

This clue's Saturday, September 19, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Terminal for taking payment from vehicle, I’m afraid
  2. 9One showing enthusiasm during Pride Month
  3. 10Empty post with lack of awareness
  4. 11Start to swim, except if overcast
  5. 12Someone who’ll stick their oar in — in more ways than one!
  6. 13Finance department confiscating dodgy meter and accessories
  7. 16Primate of independent northeastern state
  8. 18Pile of combustible material almost in centre of ancient monument
  9. 21Oil spilled after accident in North African port
  10. 22For example … for example … a test of purity
  11. 23Man I go with most promiscuous? Not him

Down

  1. 2One leaving maniacal raving in yearbook
  2. 3Scandinavian taking Charlie in disco?
  3. 4Overhearing Cockney’s gags getting lower
  4. 5Code broken with strange protocol
  5. 6Short lease coming up, we extend for further period
  6. 7Not even the slightest of slim chances
  7. 8Island quietly seized by old Persian ruler
  8. 13Endlessly greedy, swallowed fly
  9. 14Highly valued new business runs to stop university scam
  10. 15Cause of downfall unfortunately misseen
  11. 17Belief is held by Democrat
  12. 19Field half of Spanish side
  13. 20Report of confusion in Times

The answer to “Highly valued new business runs to stop university scam” in the The Times Quick Cryptic crossword is UNICORN — a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Quick Cryptic crossword on September 19, 2026, a Saturday puzzle, at 14-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Highly valued new business runs to stop university scam” answer

UNICORN (7 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is UNICORN.

What does UNICORN mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of UNICORN is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • a mythical animal typically represented as a horse with a single straight horn projecting from its forehead
  • something that is highly desirable but difficult to find or obtain
  • a carriage drawn by three horses, two abreast and one leader

When else has “Highly valued new business runs to stop university scam” appeared?

The Times Quick Cryptic reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

September 19, 2026 (most recent) → UNICORN. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Highly valued new business runs to stop university scam”?

The answer is UNICORN, a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Quick Cryptic crossword on September 19, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Highly valued new business runs to stop university scam”?

7 letters: UNICORN.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Times Quick Cryptic crossword on September 19, 2026 (a Saturday puzzle), at 14-Down.

Can “Highly valued new business runs to stop university scam” have a different answer?

Yes — The Times Quick Cryptic sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's Times Quick Cryptic answers?

The full grid for September 19, 2026 is on the Times Quick Cryptic answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Times Quick Cryptic Crossword is published by The Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

Crossword Clues

Looking up a clue? Jump into today's answers and clue help from top puzzles.