# counterfeit

/ˈkaʊntɝˌfɪt/ (US) · /kˈaʊntəfˌɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/counterfeit
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. fake or forged

adjective · CEFR B2

made to look like the real thing in order to trick people.

For teachers: made in exact imitation of something valuable with the intention to deceive or defraud.

- The shopkeeper realized the twenty-dollar bill was counterfeit because the paper felt wrong.
- Customs officials seized a massive shipment of counterfeit designer watches that were destined for local markets.

### 2. a fake item

noun · CEFR B2

an object that is a fake copy of something else.

For teachers: a fraudulent imitation of something else; a forgery.

- The painting looked real, but the expert quickly identified it as a counterfeit.
- The gallery was devastated to learn that their most famous landscape was actually a sophisticated counterfeit created in the nineteenth century.

### 3. to forge something

verb · CEFR B2

to make a fake copy of something, usually money or documents.

For teachers: to imitate fraudulently; to produce a forged copy of currency, software, or official documents.

- It is a serious crime to counterfeit money or government ID cards.
- The criminal syndicate managed to counterfeit thousands of passports before the authorities finally tracked down their printing press.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

### 4. to pretend or feign

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to pretend to have a feeling or a quality.

For teachers: to feign or simulate a particular feeling, quality, or physical state.

- She tried to counterfeit a look of surprise, but he knew she already heard the news.
- The spy had to counterfeit an air of nonchalance while the guards searched his luggage for the hidden microfilm.

## Examples

- The shop sold counterfeit designer bags.
- Police seized a shipment of counterfeit electronics that lacked official safety certifications.
- The museum curator discovered that the painting was a clever counterfeit, created by an artist who studied the master's technique for decades.

---

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.