counterfeit

[ koun-ter-fit ]

/ ˈkaʊn tərˌfɪt /

See synonyms for: counterfeit / counterfeiting on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

pretended; unreal: counterfeit grief.

noun

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

Archaic. a copy.

Archaic. a close likeness; portrait.

Obsolete. impostor; pretender.

verb (used with object)

to make a counterfeit of; imitate fraudulently; forge.

to resemble.

to simulate.

verb (used without object)

to make counterfeits, as of money.

to feign; dissemble.

SYNONYMS FOR counterfeit

1 spurious, bogus.

2 sham, feigned, pretend, make-believe; mock, fake, ersatz.

3 falsification, sham.

7 copy; falsify.

See synonyms for counterfeit on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of counterfeit

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 (see fact); (verb) Middle English countrefeten, verbal derivative of countrefet

synonym study for counterfeit

1. See false.

OTHER WORDS FROM counterfeit

coun·ter·feit·er, nouncoun·ter·feit·ly, adverbcoun·ter·feit·ness, nounnon·coun·ter·feit, adjective

un·coun·ter·feit·ed, adjective

Words nearby counterfeit

counter electromotive force, counterespionage, counterexample, counterextension, counterfactual, counterfeit, counterfoil, counterforce, counterfort, counterglow, counterimmunoelectrophoresis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for counterfeit

As we reported last year, there is an exploding demand for expensive rare whiskies—yes, even in the middle of a global pandemic—so naturally there has been a corresponding increase in the number of counterfeit bottles infiltrating the market.
It’s now possible to detect counterfeit whisky without opening the bottle|Jennifer Ouellette|September 17, 2020|Ars Technica
Ballot scanners verify that the ballot is printed on special ballot stock and most ballot envelopes have some kind of unique barcode that allows election officials to detect counterfeit ballots.
Voting by mail is more secure than the President says. How to make it even safer|matthewheimer|September 13, 2020|Fortune
For years, North Korea’s Kim dynasty has made money through criminal schemes like drug trafficking and counterfeiting cash.
North Korean hackers steal billions in cryptocurrency. How do they turn it into real cash?|Patrick O'Neill|September 10, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Adidas and Nike even use it to search the web for counterfeit shoes.
This know-it-all AI learns by reading the entire web nonstop|Will Heaven|September 4, 2020|MIT Technology Review

It remains unclear when Spinal Solutions began to counterfeit surgical implants.
Patients Screwed in Spine Surgery ‘Scam’|The Center for Investigative Reporting|November 3, 2014|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.
On the Trail of Nazi Counterfeiters|Dr. Kevin C. Ruffner|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Schwend apparently retained one-third of the profits derived from the sale of the counterfeit money.
On the Trail of Nazi Counterfeiters|Dr. Kevin C. Ruffner|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Spitz made six trips and exchanged some 600,000 marks worth of counterfeit English pounds.
On the Trail of Nazi Counterfeiters|Dr. Kevin C. Ruffner|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
New York City alone, the show claims, loses $1 billion in taxes a year to the counterfeit industry.
Museum of Fakes for a City of Fakes|William O’Connor|June 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Maid of Holland, twenty feet high, led the van, followed by the counterfeit presentment of each of her six sisters.
The Life of John of Barneveld, 1614-23, Volume II.|John Lothrop Motley
You may depend on me for that, said the counterfeit king, as he started on his recruiting expedition.
The White Rose of Memphis|William C. Falkner
And in order to verify his words, he began to counterfeit the warbling of larks.
Breton Legends|Anonymous
Do people disguise their ideas, as they counterfeit their voices?
The Catholic World. Volume II; Numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.|E. Rameur
It could discern true from false—real from counterfeit—what was genuine from sham and pretence.
Continental Monthly , Vol V. Issue III. March, 1864|Various

British Dictionary definitions for counterfeit

counterfeit

/ (ˈkaʊntəfɪt) /

adjective

made in imitation of something genuine with the intent to deceive or defraud; forged

simulated; shamcounterfeit affection

noun

an imitation designed to deceive or defraud

archaic an impostor; cheat

verb

(tr) to make a fraudulent imitation of

(intr) to make counterfeits

to feign; simulate

(tr) to imitate; copy

Derived forms of counterfeit

counterfeiter, noun

Word Origin for counterfeit

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

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

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counterfeit

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Origin of counterfeit

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British Dictionary definitions for counterfeit

adjective

noun

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Derived forms of counterfeit

Word Origin for counterfeit

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

counterfeit

adjective

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

SYNONYMS FOR counterfeit

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Origin of counterfeit

synonym study for counterfeit

OTHER WORDS FROM counterfeit

Words nearby counterfeit

Words related to counterfeit

Example sentences from the Web for counterfeit

British Dictionary definitions for counterfeit

adjective

noun

verb

Derived forms of counterfeit

Word Origin for counterfeit