charlatan

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

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

Related Words

copycat, imitator, impersonator, mimic; actor, bluffer, counterfeiter, deceiver, dissembler, duper, feigner, misleader, operator, trickster; poseur; cozener, defrauder, dodger, fraudster [chiefly British], scammer, scamster, sharper, sharpie (or sharpy), skinner, swindler

Near Antonyms

ace, adept, authority, crackerjack (also crackajack), expert, maestro, master, past master, professional, virtuoso, whiz, wizard

char·la·tan

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

Medical Definition of CHARLATAN

: quack