adj
Uncommon
counterfeit
KAWNTUH-fiht
Counterfeit (adj) means Made to imitate something genuine in order to deceive; fake. Example: “The shipment of counterfeit watches was seized at customs.”
adj
1
Made to imitate something genuine in order to deceive; fake.
"The shipment of counterfeit watches was seized at customs."
noun
1
A fake version of something, made to pass as genuine.
"The bill turned out to be a well-made counterfeit."
verb
1
To make an illegal imitation of something valuable, especially money.
"He was arrested for counterfeiting twenty-dollar bills."
How to use counterfeit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFake, made to look real in order to trick people, especially with money or branded goods.
Common pairings
counterfeit money
counterfeit goods
counterfeit designer bags
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like counterfeit.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- counterfeits
- Third person singular
- counterfeits
- Past tense
- counterfeited
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The shipment of _____ watches was seized at customs.
Etymology
From Old French contrefait, from contra- ("against") + facere ("to make") — literally "made in imitation."
Related words
Rhymes for counterfeit
See all rhymes for 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.
