Counterfeit: meaning, definitions and examples

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counterfeit

[ ˈkaʊntəfɪt ]

^{Context #1}

fake money

Counterfeit refers to something that is made to look like an exact copy of something valuable in order to deceive people.

Synonyms

fake, forged, imitation

Examples of usage

They were arrested for producing counterfeit money.
The store owner discovered that the painting was a counterfeit.

^{Context #2}

to produce fake copies

To counterfeit means to make an imitation or copy of something with the intent to deceive or defraud.

Synonyms

fake, forge, imitate

Examples of usage

He was caught counterfeiting designer handbags.
They were counterfeiting documents to pass the border.

Translations

Translations of the word "counterfeit" in other languages:

🇵🇹 falsificação

🇮🇳 नकली

🇩🇪 Fälschung

🇮🇩 palsu

🇺🇦 підробка

🇵🇱 fałszerstwo

🇯🇵 偽造品

🇫🇷 contrefaçon

🇪🇸 falsificación

🇹🇷 sahte

🇰🇷 위조품

🇸🇦 مزيف

🇨🇿 padělek

🇸🇰 falšovanie

🇨🇳 伪造品

🇸🇮 ponaredek

🇮🇸 falsað

🇰🇿 жасанды

🇬🇪 ყალბი

🇦🇿 saxta

🇲🇽 falsificación

Word origin

The word 'counterfeit' originated from the Old French word 'contrefait', which means 'imitated, forged'. It has been used in English since the 13th century to refer to anything made in imitation of something else with the intent to deceive. Counterfeiting has a long history, with counterfeit money and goods being produced throughout the ages to defraud others.