quack

1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈkwak 

quacked; quacking; quacks

intransitive verb

: to make the characteristic cry of a duck

quack

2 of 5

noun (1)

: a noise made by quacking

quack

3 of 5

verb (2)

quacked; quacking; quacks

intransitive verb

: to act like a quack

quack

4 of 5

noun (2)

1

: charlatan sense 2

Religious quacks on radio and television thinking up new ways to take money from ignorant listeners and incidentally from legitimate churches.

—Andrew A. Rooney

2

: an ignorant, misinformed, or dishonest practitioner of medicine

No doubt these misunderstandings and dashed hopes have driven many cancer patients and their families into the arms of quacks.

—Haydn Bush

quackish

ˈkwa-kish 

adjective

quack

5 of 5

adjective

: of, relating to, or used by quacks

quack cancer cures

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• charlatan
• fake
• faker
• fakir
• fraud
• hoaxer
• humbug
• impostor
• imposter
• mountebank
• phony
• phoney
• pretender
• quacksalver
• ringer
• sham

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

alteration of queck to quack, from Middle English queken, from queke, interjection, of imitative origin

Noun (2) and Verb (2)

short for quacksalver

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1798, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1628, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1638, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1653, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing quack

• quack grass

• quack grass

Kids Definition

quack

1 of 4 noun

ˈkwak 

: the cry of a duck

also : a sound resembling this cry

quack

2 of 4 verb

: to make a quack

quack

3 of 4 noun

: a person who makes false claims to special knowledge or ability

especially : one who pretends to have medical skill

quack

4 of 4 adjective

: of, relating to, or used by a person who is a quack

quack medicines

Medical Definition

quack

1 of 2 noun

ˈkwak 

: a pretender to medical skill : an ignorant or dishonest practitioner

quackish

-ish 

adjective

quack

2 of 2 adjective

: of, relating to, characteristic of, or being a quack

scores of quack remedies for arthritis

—Jane E. Brody