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counterfeit

fake / fraudulent / forge / imitation
AdjectiveNounTransitive Verb
past: counterfeitedpp: counterfeiteding: counterfeiting

This term carries a strong connotation of criminal intent and deception. While words like fake or imitation might describe a cheap version of a product, this word specifically implies a deliberate attempt to pass off a fraud as the original to cheat someone. When used to describe human emotions or behavior, it suggests a calculated performance of sincerity. It describes a facade that is consciously constructed to mislead others about one's true internal state.

Meanings

Adjective

Made in a fraudulent imitation of something else to deceive people.

"The police seized a large shipment of counterfeit handbags."

Adjective

False or fake; not genuine in nature or intention.

"He gave a counterfeit smile to hide his true anger."

Noun

A fraudulent imitation of something, especially money or a work of art.

"The bank teller quickly identified the twenty-dollar bill as a counterfeit."

Transitive Verb
[~ something]

To make a fraudulent copy of something in order to deceive.

"The criminals attempted to counterfeit the company's official seal."

Related Words

Last Updated: June 13, 2026Report an Error