counterfeit

[koun-ter-fit]

adjective

1. made in imitation so as to be passed off fraudulently or deceptively as genuine; not genuine; forged.

   counterfeit dollar bills.

   Synonyms: bogus, spurious

2. pretended; unreal.

   counterfeit grief.

   Synonyms: ersatz, fake, mock, make-believe, pretend, feigned, sham

noun

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

   Synonyms: sham, falsification

2. Archaic.,  a copy.

3. Archaic.,  a close likeness; portrait.

4. Obsolete.,  impostor; pretender.

verb (used with object)

1. to make a counterfeit of; imitate fraudulently; forge.

   Synonyms: falsify, copy

2. to resemble.

3. to simulate.

verb (used without object)

1. to make counterfeits, as of money.

2. to feign; dissemble.

counterfeit

/ ˈkaʊntəfɪt /

adjective

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

2. simulated; sham

   counterfeit affection

noun

1. an imitation designed to deceive or defraud

2. archaic,  an impostor; cheat

verb

1. (tr) to make a fraudulent imitation of

2. (intr) to make counterfeits

3. to feign; simulate

4. (tr) to imitate; copy

Other Word Forms

• counterfeiter noun
• counterfeitly adverb
• counterfeitness noun
• noncounterfeit adjective
• uncounterfeited adjective

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

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

Synonym Study

See false.

Example Sentences

Deaths involving benzodiazepines - including prescribed diazepam and counterfeit tablets such as 'street Valium' - rose rapidly over the last decade and were a major factor in the drug deaths crisis.

From BBC

It was found to be full of counterfeits of Calvin Klein, Walt Disney, Nike, Prada and other brands.

From BBC

On Aug. 20, Carrasco-Ramirez was arrested and booked into the Cois M. Byrd Detention Center in the French Valley on suspicion of grand theft, theft by false pretenses and passing counterfeit checks.

From Los Angeles Times

The Foreign Office described methanol poisoning and counterfeit alcohol as a "serious problem in some parts of the world" and said it was working with local authorities and the travel industry to tackle the issue.

From BBC

The policies include banning promotion of counterfeit goods, dangerous products such as recreational drugs and hacking software.

From BBC

Related Words

• bogus 
• copied www.thesaurus.com
• false 
• fictitious 
• forged www.thesaurus.com
• fraudulent 
• phony 
• spurious