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charlatan
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char·la·tan

noun \ˈshär-lə-tən\

Definition of CHARLATAN

1
: quack 2
2
: one making usually showy pretenses to knowledge or ability : fraud, faker
— char·la·tan·ism \-tə-ˌni-zəm\ noun
— char·la·tan·ry \-rē\ noun
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Examples of CHARLATAN

  1. <the famed faith healer turned out to be a charlatan>

Origin of CHARLATAN

Italian ciarlatano, alteration of cerretano, literally, inhabitant of Cerreto, from Cerreto, Italy
First Known Use: 1618

Related to CHARLATAN

Synonyms
impostor, fake, faker, fakir, fraud, hoaxer, humbug, mountebank, phony (also phoney), pretender, quack, quacksalver, ringer, sham

char·la·tan

noun \ˈshär-lət-ən\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of CHARLATAN

: quack

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