[er-zahts, -sahts, er-zahts, -sahts] 
| 1. | serving as a substitute; synthetic; artificial: an ersatz coffee made from grain. |
| 2. | an artificial substance or article used to replace something natural or genuine; a substitute. |
| er·satz (ěr'zäts', ěr-zäts') adj. Being an imitation or a substitute, usually an inferior one; artificial: ersatz coffee made mostly of chicory. See Synonyms at artificial. [German, replacement, from ersetzen, to replace, from Old High German irsezzan : ir-, out; see ud- in Indo-European roots + sezzan, to set; see sed- in Indo-European roots.] er'satz' n. |
| Main Entry: | ersatz1 |
| Part of Speech: | adj |
| Definition: | substitute, artificial and often inferior; using substitute components |
| Etymology: | German 'replacement' |
| Main Entry: | ersatz1 |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | an artificial substitute; imitation |
| Etymology: | German 'replacement' |
| Main Entry: | ersatz2 |
| Part of Speech: | adj |
| Definition: | simulated, counterfeit |
| Etymology: | German 'replacement' |
| Main Entry: | ersatz2 |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | something similar in a superficial way |
| Etymology: | German 'replacement' |
