counterfeit

4 synonyms and 1 antonym for counterfeit, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Made to imitate something genuine in order to deceive; fake.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

fake

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

forge

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

forgery imitative

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Made to imitate something genuine in order to deceive; fake.

“The shipment of counterfeit watches was seized at customs.”

fake forge forgery imitative

Opposites

genuine

2. noun

A fake version of something, made to pass as genuine.

“The bill turned out to be a well-made counterfeit.”

forgery

3. verb

To make an illegal imitation of something valuable, especially money.

“He was arrested for counterfeiting twenty-dollar bills.”

forge fake

How to use counterfeit

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

counterfeit money counterfeit goods counterfeit designer bags

Etymology

From Old French contrefait, from contra- ("against") + facere ("to make") — literally "made in imitation."

Full origin of counterfeit →

Frequently asked questions

What does “counterfeit” mean?

The word “counterfeit” means made to imitate something genuine in order to deceive; fake. In plain terms, fake, made to look real in order to trick people, especially with money or branded goods.

How do you pronounce “counterfeit”?

“Counterfeit” is pronounced KAWNTUH-fiht (/ˈkaʊn.tɚˌfɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “counterfeit” in a sentence?

Here is “counterfeit” used in a sentence: “The shipment of counterfeit watches was seized at customs.”

What part of speech is “counterfeit”?

Depending on how it is used, “counterfeit” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “counterfeit” come from?

The word “counterfeit” comes from Old French. From Old French contrefait, from contra- ("against") + facere ("to make") — literally "made in imitation.".

Is “counterfeit” a common word?

“Counterfeit” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “counterfeit” have?

“Counterfeit” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: made to imitate something genuine in order to deceive; fake.

People also searched

fake genuine forge forgery imitative

Nearby words

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