Ersatz: meaning, definitions and examples
🆘
ersatz
[ ˈɛər.zætʃ ]
substitute product
Ersatz refers to something that is a substitute or imitation, often of inferior quality. It is typically used to describe products or items that are not genuine or authentic, and thus may lack the qualities that make the original desirable.
Synonyms
fake, imitation, substitute, synthetic.
Examples of usage
- The coffee was an ersatz version made from grains.
- They offered an ersatz experience to simulate the original.
- She felt disappointed by the ersatz luxury of the hotel.
Translations
Translations of the word "ersatz" in other languages:
🇵🇹 substituto
- falso
- imitação
🇮🇳 प्रत Ersatz
- नकली
- विकल्प
🇩🇪 Ersatz
- Ersatzprodukt
- Nachahmung
🇮🇩 pengganti
- tiruan
- palsu
🇺🇦 замінник
- підробка
- імітація
🇵🇱 zamiennik
- substytut
- imitacja
🇯🇵 代用品
- 偽物
- 模倣品
🇫🇷 substitut
- faux
- imitation
🇪🇸 sustituto
- falso
- imitación
🇹🇷 yerine geçen
- sahte
- taklit
🇰🇷 대체물
- 가짜
- 모조품
🇸🇦 بديل
- مزيف
- تقليد
🇨🇿 náhrada
- imitace
- falešný
🇸🇰 náhrada
- falošný
- imitácia
🇨🇳 替代品
- 假货
- 模仿品
🇸🇮 nadomestek
- ponaredek
- imitacija
🇮🇸 staðgengill
- falskur
- eftirlíking
🇰🇿 алмастырушы
- жалған
- имитация
🇬🇪 შეცვლილი
- ყალბი
- იმიტაცია
🇦🇿 əvəz
- saxta
- imitasiya
🇲🇽 sustituto
- falso
- imitación
Etymology
The word 'ersatz' originates from the German language, where it literally means 'replacement' or 'substitute'. It was first used in the 19th century and became popular during the time of scarcity, particularly during events such as World War I, when items that were hard to come by were replaced with inferior substitutes. Its use expanded beyond food and goods to describe all sorts of imitations, especially those that seek to take the place of something seen as better or more authentic. In today’s usage, 'ersatz' often carries a negative connotation, implying that the substitute is of lower quality or is just not satisfactory, hence it is frequently used in both everyday language and formal discussions.