charlatan

American  

[shahr-luh-tn] / ˈʃɑr lə tn /

noun

1. a person who pretends or claims to have more knowledge or skill than they possess; fraud; quack.

   Synonyms:

   phony, fake, fraud, mountebank, impostor

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charlatan British  

/ ˈʃɑːlətən /

noun

1. someone who professes knowledge or expertise, esp in medicine, that he or she does not have; quack

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Other Word Forms

• charlatanic adjective
• charlatanical adjective
• charlatanically adverb
• charlatanish adjective
• charlatanism noun
• charlatanistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of charlatan

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Middle French, from Italian ciarlatano, equivalent to ciarla(tore) “chatterer” (derivative of ciarlare “to chatter”; from imitative root) + (cerre)tano “hawker, quack,” literally, “native of Cerreto, ” a village in Umbria, known for its quacks

Example Sentences

It seems like the perfect situation for charlatans, since I don’t think there is any one “correct” answer.

From MarketWatch

The magician Ricky Jay’s compendium of actual “unique, eccentric and amazing entertainers” offers a parade of con artists, charlatans, escapologists, daredevils, mesmerists, contortionists and sideshow acts.

From The Wall Street Journal

And though it’s much easier now to find books and other media taking a range of perspectives on menopause, it’s also easy to be waylaid by influencers, charlatans and factionalism.

From Salon

But the next year, Hitler himself declared that all forms of modern art were degenerate and had no place in his Germany, which would not “be befuddled or intimidated” by modernist “charlatans.”

From Salon

That contemporary art might be a dubious realm populated by frauds and charlatans seems quaint today, but once upon a time it was a standard assumption.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• con artist