charlatan
Charlatan (noun) means a person who pretends to have skill or knowledge they don't actually have, usually to trick people out of money. Example: “The so-called healer turned out to be a charlatan selling sugar pills as medicine.”
How to use charlatan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA fraud who fakes expertise to fool people, especially in medicine, business, or "expert" advice.
Stronger and more deliberate than "amateur" — a charlatan isn't just unskilled, they are actively deceiving people.
Word forms
charlatans plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The so-called healer turned out to be a _____ selling sugar pills as medicine.
Etymology
From French charlatan, borrowed from Italian ciarlatano, blending "ciarlare" (to chatter) with "cerretano" (a hawker from the town of Cerreto, once known for its traveling quack doctors).
Synonyms
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Rhymes for charlatan
See all rhymes for charlatan →Frequently asked questions
What does “charlatan” mean?
The word “charlatan” means a person who pretends to have skill or knowledge they don't actually have, usually to trick people out of money. In plain terms, a fraud who fakes expertise to fool people, especially in medicine, business, or "expert" advice.
How do you pronounce “charlatan”?
“Charlatan” is pronounced SHAH-luh-tuhn (/ˈʃɑɹlətən/ in IPA).
How do you use “charlatan” in a sentence?
Here is “charlatan” used in a sentence: “The so-called healer turned out to be a charlatan selling sugar pills as medicine.”
What part of speech is “charlatan”?
“Charlatan” is a noun.
Where does the word “charlatan” come from?
The word “charlatan” comes from French. From French charlatan, borrowed from Italian ciarlatano, blending "ciarlare" (to chatter) with "cerretano" (a hawker from the town of Cerreto, once known for its traveling quack doctors).