counterfeit

[ koun-ter-fit ]

adjective

1. made in imitation so as to be passed off fraudulently or deceptively as genuine; not genuine; forged:

   counterfeit dollar bills.

   Synonyms: bogus, spurious

2. pretended; unreal:

   counterfeit grief.

   Synonyms: ersatz, fake, mock, make-believe, pretend, feigned, sham

noun

1. an imitation intended to be passed off fraudulently or deceptively as genuine; forgery.

   Synonyms: falsification, sham

2. Archaic. a copy.
3. Archaic. a close likeness; portrait.
4. Obsolete. impostor; pretender.

verb (used with object)

1. to make a counterfeit of; imitate fraudulently; forge.

   Synonyms: falsify, copy

2. to resemble.
3. to simulate.

verb (used without object)

1. to make counterfeits, as of money.
2. to feign; dissemble.

counterfeit

/ ˈkaʊntəfɪt /

adjective

1. made in imitation of something genuine with the intent to deceive or defraud; forged
2. simulated; sham

   counterfeit affection

noun

1. an imitation designed to deceive or defraud
2. archaic.
   an impostor; cheat

verb

1. tr to make a fraudulent imitation of
2. intr to make counterfeits
3. to feign; simulate
4. tr to imitate; copy

Derived Forms

• ˈcounterfeiter, noun

Other Words From

• counter·feiter noun
• counter·feitly adverb
• counter·feitness noun
• non·counter·feit adjective
• un·counter·feited adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of counterfeit¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (adjective) Middle English countrefet “false, forged,” from Anglo-French cuntrefet, Old French contrefait, contrefet, past participle of contrefaire, contrefere “to copy, imitate,” equivalent to conter- counter- + fere “to make, do,” ultimately from Latin facere ( fact ); (verb) Middle English countrefeten, verbal derivative of countrefet

Word History and Origins

Origin of counterfeit¹

C13: from Old French contrefait, from contrefaire to copy, from contre- counter- + faire to make, from Latin facere

Synonym Study

See false.

Example Sentences

Perhaps they spotted the counterfeit seal, or opened the engine to find all their valves missing.

From MIT Technology Review

Some public health experts said the federal government should have prioritized certifying or manufacturing better masks earlier so Americans do not have to fend for themselves to avoid counterfeits or upgrade their own.

From Washington Post

The aim is to protect shoppers from buying counterfeit, stolen, or dangerous goods on these marketplaces, which sometimes make it hard to know who is behind the product for sale.

From Quartz

Last June, the regulatory agency began issuing alerts and warnings for consumers about dangerous and counterfeit hand sanitizers, many of which were made in Mexico.

From Ars Technica

The photos are then analyzed by in-house experts who determine whether the goods are genuine or counterfeit.

From Ozy

It remains unclear when Spinal Solutions began to counterfeit surgical implants.

From The Daily Beast

The lawyers accuse Spinal Solutions of selling counterfeit implants and doctors of accepting kickbacks in return for using them.

From The Daily Beast

In one of the last desperate acts of World War II, the SS dumped crates full of counterfeit money into nearby Lake Toplitz.

From The Daily Beast

Schwend apparently retained one-third of the profits derived from the sale of the counterfeit money.

From The Daily Beast

Spitz made six trips and exchanged some 600,000 marks worth of counterfeit English pounds.

From The Daily Beast

But at the instant I caught a sight of my counterfeit presentment in a shop window, and veiled my haughty crest.

From Project Gutenberg

As well might we say that because there are counterfeit bank bills in existence, therefore, none are genuine.

From Project Gutenberg

In other words, since counterfeit bank bills exist therefore none are genuine.

From Project Gutenberg

Princes' sons never have their fathers tried for passing counterfeit money.

From Project Gutenberg

Several factories where counterfeit bread tickets were printed have been discovered in Berlin.

From Project Gutenberg