adjective

fugazi

fuh-GAH-zee

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Fugazi (adjective) means Fake, counterfeit or not what it claims to be. Example: “The watch he was selling was fugazi.”

adjective

slang Fake, counterfeit or not what it claims to be.

"The watch he was selling was fugazi."

"Those diamonds are fugazi, and any jeweller would spot it."

noun

slang Something worthless or illusory, presented as though it were real.

"He described the whole scheme as a fugazi built on borrowed money."

How to use fugazi

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFake, not the real thing.

When to use it

American slang, strongly associated with crime films and Wall Street talk. It sounds knowing and a little theatrical rather than neutral.

Memory tip

The spelling fugazy also appears. The word's origin is disputed and no explanation for it is settled, so treat any confident story about where it came from with caution.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

fugazy phoney fugue →

Common pairings

it's fugazi fugazi diamonds totally fugazi

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “fugazi” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The watch he was selling was _____.

Etymology

Origin unknown; a number of possibilities have been suggested: * One theory is that it is a corruption of French fougasse (“type of land mine”); flame fougasses were used extensively in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. * Less plausibly, it might be from English fugacious (“fleeting”) or cognates such as Italian fugace (“fleeting”). * It has also been suggested that it could be an acronym of “fucked up, got ambushed, zipped in [a body bag]”, but this is more likely a backronym, not the origin (compare FUBAR).

Origin: French

Synonyms

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counterfeit phoney bogus fake sham con illusion

Antonyms

genuine authentic

Related words

real study original learn actual pro fake trick

Rhymes for fugazi

Nazi Anasazi Benghazi

See all rhymes for fugazi →

Frequently asked questions

What does fugazi mean?

It means fake or counterfeit. Calling an object fugazi says it is a forgery, and calling a situation fugazi says it is not what it appears to be.

Where does the word fugazi come from?

Its origin is genuinely uncertain. Several explanations circulate, including military slang and Italian American speech, but none is established, so the honest answer is that nobody knows.

Is fugazi the same as phoney?

They mean much the same thing, but fugazi is rarer and more colourful, and it usually describes objects or deals rather than people. Phoney is the neutral everyday word and applies equally to a person's manner.

What is the meaning of fugazi?

"fugazi" (adjective) means fake, counterfeit or not what it claims to be.

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