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

OTHER WORDS FROM charlatan

char·la·tan·ic

[shahr-luh-tan-ik], /ˌʃɑr ləˈtæn ɪk/, char·la·tan·i·cal, char·la·tan·ish, char·la·tan·is·tic, adjectivechar·la·tan·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby charlatan

charity school, charivari, chark, charkha, charlady, charlatan, charlatanism, charlatanry, Charlemagne, Charlene, Charleroi

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use charlatan in a sentence

Metaverse knowledge abounds, and it is ripe for the taking — as long as interested companies can dodge the charlatans and collaborate with metaverse builders who truly know what they’re doing.
As hiring in the metaverse ramps up, experts caution against working with snake oil salesmen|Alexander Lee|November 22, 2021|Digiday
While the charlatan won’t ever stop daydreaming of magically zooming up the social ladder, the film is clear-eyed about the desolation that lies before him.
Why does ‘Squid Game’ resonate so well in the U.S.? It may be its portrayal of economic dispair.|Inkoo Kang|October 8, 2021|Washington Post
However, as fans familiar with Spider-Man lore knew all too well, Mysterio was little more than a villainous charlatan who pretended to be a hero when in reality, he was creating fake chaos.
Tom Holland Helped Jake Gyllenhaal Overcome His Anxiety On Spider-Man|noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)|October 7, 2021|TechCrunch
As for Ed and Lorraine Warren, they come across as charlatans who had very little impact on the eventual outcome of this incident, and who used it to enhance their own celebrity.
The Real-Life ‘Demonic’ Murder That Inspired ‘The Conjuring’|Nick Schager|June 11, 2021|The Daily Beast

But, even if that sort of pushback becomes the norm, news organizations should be wary of handing these charlatans a megaphone.
So you’re being held accountable? That’s not ‘cancel culture.’|Margaret Sullivan|January 31, 2021|Washington Post
Read a cautionary tale about the seductive and dangerous power of a charlatan sociopath, featuring goats and the American Dream.
The Strange, True Tale of the Old-Timey Goat Testicle-Implanting 'Governor'|Penny Lane|September 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Charlatan is an unfair word,” Kennedy opined, but “he did an awful lot for effect.
Jackie O’s Dark Side|Eleanor Clift|September 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST
And the gratitude I get is this charlatan chose not to do his job, which is to write.
Charlie Sheen's 10 Worst Quotes, from Anti-Semitism to Alcoholism|The Daily Beast|February 25, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Recognizing that Messier was simply a corporate charlatan, Bronfman stepped up and led the charge to remove the megalomaniac.
Music's Misunderstood Genius|Peter Lauria|July 4, 2010|DAILY BEAST
In our shock at the way things have turned out, we wonder if there is anyone left in charge who's not a charlatan or a fool.
Laughter in the Dark|Tina Brown|February 2, 2009|DAILY BEAST
The Britons and the Germans seemed not to heed; but now and then the American school-marms unmasked the charlatan.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
In spite of his true greatness he lacked simplicity, and he imported the arts of a charlatan into political life.
The Political History of England - Vol. X.|William Hunt
Willis was represented by the prince's party as a charlatan, and Warren was pitted against him as the doctor of the opposition.
The Political History of England - Vol. X.|William Hunt
It would place him before the world as a false teacher, a fraud, a charlatan.
The Testimony of the Bible Concerning the Assumptions of Destructive Criticism|S. E. Wishard
Should we not brand such a man as an unscrupulous charlatan or at best as a dangerous visionary?
Secret Societies And Subversive Movements|Nesta H. Webster

British Dictionary definitions for charlatan

charlatan

/ (ˈʃɑːlətən) /

noun

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

Derived forms of charlatan

charlatanism or charlatanry, nouncharlatanistic, adjective

Word Origin for charlatan

C17: from French, from Italian ciarlatano, from ciarlare to chatter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

charlatan

OTHER WORDS FOR charlatan

Origin of charlatan

OTHER WORDS FROM charlatan

Words nearby charlatan

Words related to charlatan

How to use charlatan in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for charlatan

Derived forms of charlatan

Word Origin for charlatan