counterfeit

verb

counterfeited; counterfeiting; counterfeits

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

counterfeiter noun

Synonyms of counterfeit

• fake
• forge
• phony

Choose the Right Synonym for counterfeit

assume, affect, pretend, simulate, feign, counterfeit, sham mean to put on a false or deceptive appearance.

assume often implies a justifiable motive rather than an intent to deceive.

assumed an air of cheerfulness around the patients

affect implies making a false show of possessing, using, or feeling.

affected an interest in art

pretend implies an overt and sustained false appearance.

pretended that nothing had happened

simulate suggests a close imitation of the appearance of something.

cosmetics that simulate a suntan

feign implies more artful invention than pretend, less specific mimicry than simulate.

feigned sickness

counterfeit implies achieving the highest degree of verisimilitude of any of these words.

an actor counterfeiting drunkenness

sham implies an obvious falseness that fools only the gullible.

shammed a most unconvincing limp

Examples of counterfeit in a Sentence

They were counterfeiting money in his garage.

an expert at counterfeiting money

Recent Examples on the Web

There have been a lot of studies on counterfeiting conducted with customs and police, but these have mostly focused on the scale of the problem. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 26 May 2026

People try to make money hard to counterfeit. —Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2026

And Cannon — who played with the Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs — admitted to counterfeiting in the mid-1980s after a series of bad investments and debts left him broke. —Seung Min Kim, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026

Cannon, a star with the Houston Oilers and Oakland Raiders, admitted to counterfeiting in the mid-1980s. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for counterfeit

• candlelit
• hypocrite
• resubmit
• retrofit
• acquit
• admit
• armpit
• backlit
• befit
• cockpit
• commit
• dalit

Kids Definition

counterfeit

1 of 3 verb

coun·​ter·​feit ˈkau̇nt-ər-ˌfit 

1

: to imitate or copy especially in order to deceive

counterfeiting money

2

: pretend entry 1 sense 1, feign

counterfeit enthusiasm to mask boredom

counterfeiter noun

counterfeit

2 of 3 adjective

1

: made in exact imitation of something else with the intention of deceiving : forged

counterfeit money

2

: not sincere : sham

counterfeit

3 of 3 noun

: something counterfeit : forgery

Legal Definition

counterfeit

1 of 3 adjective

coun·​ter·​feit ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌfit 

: made in imitation of a genuine article (as a document) without authorization and especially with intent to deceive or defraud

counterfeit

2 of 3 transitive verb

: to make an imitation of without authorization and especially with intent to deceive or defraud

whoever falsely makes, alters, forges, or counterfeits any deed

—U.S. Code

counterfeiter noun

counterfeit

3 of 3 noun

: something counterfeit

all counterfeits of any coins or obligations

—U.S. Code

compare forgery

Etymology

Middle French contrefait, past participle of contrefaire to imitate, draw, paint, from contre- counter- + faire to make