# charlatan

/ˈʃɑɹɫətən/ (US) · /ʃˈɑːlətən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/charlatan
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

a person who pretends to have special skills or knowledge in order to trick people, usually for money. You use it for a fake expert who lies about what he or she can do.

For teachers: a person who falsely claims expert knowledge or skill in order to deceive others, typically for financial gain. Often applied to fraudulent practitioners in medicine, finance, or spiritual matters.

## Examples

- People soon see him as a charlatan, not a doctor.
- The clinic hired the charlatan after he promised miracle cures without any medical training.
- Behind the polished lectures and bestselling remedies stood a practiced charlatan whose credentials dissolved under the slightest scrutiny from genuine scholars.

## Synonyms

fraud, impostor, fake, quack

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.