View synonyms for counterfeit

counterfeit

[ koun-ter-fit ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

made in imitation so as to be passed off fraudulently or deceptively as genuine; not genuine; forged:
counterfeit dollar bills.
Synonyms: bogus, spurious
pretended; unreal:
counterfeit grief.
Synonyms: ersatz, fake, mock, make-believe, pretend, feigned, sham

noun

an imitation intended to be passed off fraudulently or deceptively as genuine; forgery.
Synonyms: falsification, sham
Archaic. a copy.
Archaic. a close likeness; portrait.
Obsolete. impostor; pretender.

verb (used with object)

to make a counterfeit of; imitate fraudulently; forge.
Synonyms: falsify, copy
to resemble.
to simulate.

verb (used without object)

to make counterfeits, as of money.
to feign; dissemble.

counterfeit

/ ˈkaʊntəfɪt /

adjective

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

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Derived Forms

ˈcounterfeiter, noun

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Other Words From

counter·feiter noun
counter·feitly adverb
counter·feitness noun
non·counter·feit adjective
un·counter·feited adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of counterfeit¹

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of counterfeit¹

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

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Synonym Study

See false.

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Example Sentences

Nigeria's drug authority introduced new regulations for medicines aimed at tackling the importation of counterfeit and sub-standard drugs.

From BBC

On the topic of counterfeit products Mr Ishihara is more direct, and says the company's legal teams have fought "rigorously" against clones and fakes since the beginning.

From BBC

Adding to quality concerns are counterfeit drugs, which have seeped into both generic and brand-name drugs markets across the world and are notoriously difficult to detect.

From BBC

Five men were arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of using counterfeit electronic benefit transfer cards to fraudulently withdraw funds intended to provide essential food and financial aid to low-income families.

From Los Angeles Times

But in the past three to four years, they started being prescribed as a weight-loss aide, leading to global shortages and counterfeit products.

From BBC

counterfactual counterfoil

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