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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