counterfeit

[ koun-ter-fit ]

/ ˈkaʊn tərˌfɪt /

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See synonyms for: counterfeit / counterfeited / 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.

OTHER WORDS 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

countereconomy, counter electromotive force, counterespionage, counterexample, counterfactual, counterfeit, counterfoil, counterforce, counterfort, counterglow, counterinsurgency

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

How to use counterfeit in a sentence

Perhaps they spotted the counterfeit seal, or opened the engine to find all their valves missing.
Lunik: Inside the CIA’s audacious plot to steal a Soviet satellite|Bobbie Johnson|January 28, 2021|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.
Time to double or upgrade masks as coronavirus variants emerge, experts say|Fenit Nirappil|January 27, 2021|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.
Congress finally wants to do something about counterfeiters on Amazon|Marc Bain|January 27, 2021|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.
84% of Mexican hand sanitizers toxic or flawed; FDA issues drastic alert|Beth Mole|January 27, 2021|Ars Technica

The photos are then analyzed by in-house experts who determine whether the goods are genuine or counterfeit.
The Unlikely New Champion of Consumer Rights: China|Charu Kasturi|December 17, 2020|Ozy
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
The lawyers accuse Spinal Solutions of selling counterfeit implants and doctors of accepting kickbacks in return for using them.
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
But at the instant I caught a sight of my counterfeit presentment in a shop window, and veiled my haughty crest.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
As well might we say that because there are counterfeit bank bills in existence, therefore, none are genuine.
Gospel Philosophy|J. H. Ward
In other words, since counterfeit bank bills exist therefore none are genuine.
Gospel Philosophy|J. H. Ward
Princes' sons never have their fathers tried for passing counterfeit money.
Harper's Young People, November 30, 1880|Various
Several factories where counterfeit bread tickets were printed have been discovered in Berlin.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 152, May 16, 1917.|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

counterfeit

OTHER WORDS FOR counterfeit

Origin of counterfeit

synonym study for counterfeit

OTHER WORDS FROM counterfeit

Words nearby counterfeit

Words related to counterfeit

How to use counterfeit in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for counterfeit

Derived forms of counterfeit

Word Origin for counterfeit