counterfeit

¹coun·ter·feit

adjective \ˈkau̇nt-ər-ˌfit\

Definition of COUNTERFEIT

1

: made in imitation of something else with intent to deceive : forged <counterfeit money>

2

a : insincere, feigned <counterfeit sympathy>

b : imitation <counterfeit Georgian houses>

Examples of COUNTERFEIT

1. The concert ticket is counterfeit.
2. <counterfeit currency that had been passed all over town>

Origin of COUNTERFEIT

Middle English countrefet, from Anglo-French cuntrefeit, from past participle of cuntrefere, contrefaire to imitate, from cuntre- + faire to make, from Latin facere — more at do

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to COUNTERFEIT

Synonyms

bogus, fake, false, forged, inauthentic, phony (also phoney), queer, sham, snide, spurious, unauthentic

Antonyms

authentic, bona fide, genuine, real, unfaked

Related Words

artificial, factitious, imitation, man-made, mimic, mock, simulated, substitute, synthetic; dummy, nonfunctioning, ornamental; cultured, fabricated, manufactured; deceptive, delusive, misleading

Near Antonyms

natural; actual, true, valid

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

Rhymes with COUNTERFEIT

babysit, benefit, borrow pit, cable-knit, candlelit, come off it, cuckoo spit, double knit, get with it, hissy fit, holy writ, hypocrite, infield hit, intermit, intromit, manumit, megahit, mother wit, out of it, put to it, recommit, retrofit, step on it

²counterfeit

verb

Definition of COUNTERFEIT

transitive verb

: to imitate or feign especially with intent to deceive; also : to make a fraudulent replica of <counterfeiting $20 bills>

intransitive verb

1

: to try to deceive by pretense or dissembling

2

: to engage in counterfeiting something of value

— coun·ter·feit·er noun

Examples of COUNTERFEIT

1. They were counterfeiting money in his garage.
2. <an expert at counterfeiting money>

First Known Use of COUNTERFEIT

14th century

Related to COUNTERFEIT

Synonyms

fake, forge, phony

Related Words

simulate; duplicate, reduplicate, replicate, reproduce; crib, plagiarize; adulterate, doctor, fudge, juggle, manipulate, tamper (with); concoct, cook (up), fabricate, invent

See Synonym Discussion at assume

³counterfeit

noun

Definition of COUNTERFEIT

1

: something counterfeit : forgery

2

: something likely to be mistaken for something of higher value <pity was a counterfeit of love — Harry Hervey>

Examples of COUNTERFEIT

1. <the will as well as the other documents turned out to be counterfeits>

First Known Use of COUNTERFEIT

15th century

Related to COUNTERFEIT

Synonyms

fake, forgery, hoax, humbug, phony (also phoney), sham

Related Words

copycat, knockoff; copy, facsimile, replica, reproduction; dummy, mock-up; fraud, gaff, imposture, spoof, swindle; simulation, synthetic; bastard, brummagem, duffer, shoddy

Near Antonyms

original

See Synonym Discussion at imposture

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi