Faking Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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faking

[ˈfeɪ.kɪŋ ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

deceptive behavior

To pretend to feel or be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury). To produce a counterfeit or fraudulent imitation of (something). To deceive or trick (someone).

Synonyms

counterfeit, feign, pretend, simulate.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
faking	Used when someone is pretending to be something they are not, often to deceive others, and usually has a negative connotation. He was caught faking his illness to get out of work. She was faking enthusiasm at the party.
pretend	Commonly used when someone is acting as if something is true when it is not, can be playful or deceptive depending on the context. Children often pretend to be superheroes. She pretended not to know him when they met.
feign	Used when someone is pretending to have a particular feeling, condition, or injury, often to deceive others. Formal and somewhat less negative than 'faking'. He feigned surprise when he actually already knew about the party. She feigned interest in the conversation.
simulate	Used when creating a likeness or model of a situation or system, often in a scientific, technical, or educational context; usually does not imply deceit. Scientists use computers to simulate weather patterns. The flight simulator helps pilots practice.
counterfeit	Refers to something made in exact imitation of something valuable or important with the intention to deceive. Commonly used regarding money, documents, or goods. The painting turned out to be a counterfeit. They were arrested for producing counterfeit money.

Examples of usage

Stop faking your illness and go to work.
He was faking his smile the whole time.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

informal

The practice of pretending to feel or be affected by something, typically in order to deceive someone.

Synonyms

counterfeiting, deception, pretense.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
faking	Faking is often used when someone is pretending or imitating something or someone. It can refer to emotions, injuries, or actions that are not real. He was faking an injury to avoid running the race. She smiled, but I could tell she was faking her happiness.
pretense	Pretense is used when someone is putting on a false appearance or claim, often to achieve a specific result. It is usually less severe than deception but still involves some level of dishonesty. He visited under the pretense of checking on her health, but he really wanted to discuss business. Her pretense of innocence fooled no one.
deception	Deception is used when someone is deliberately misleading or tricking others. This can take many forms, including lying, concealment, or manipulation. Her deception was discovered after months of investigation. The whole scheme was built on deception.
counterfeiting	Counterfeiting is primarily used in the context of illegally producing a copy of something valuable, like money or art. It carries a legal and criminal implication. The police arrested the gang for counterfeiting currency. He was caught counterfeiting rare paintings.

Examples of usage

She saw through his faking and called him out on it.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'faking'

The word 'faking' originated from the Middle English term 'faken', meaning 'to deceive'. Over time, it evolved to its current usage in the 19th century, with a focus on the act of pretending or imitating something falsely. The concept of faking has been prevalent in human behavior for centuries, often used as a tool for deception, self-preservation, or entertainment.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,594, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.

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26591 ventilate
26592 ushering
26593 vacillation
26594 faking
26595 digress
26596 corduroy
26597 amethyst
...