Word
counterfeit
Phoneticscoun·ter·feit, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkaʊntɝˌfɪt/
UK/kˈaʊntəfˌɪt/
Definitions
01fake or forged
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. made to look like the real thing in order to trick people.
adj. 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.”
Synonyms
02a fake item
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. an object that is a fake copy of something else.
n. a fraudulent imitation of something else; a forgery.
Español:contrahechura
“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.”
Antonyms
03to forge something
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make a fake copy of something, usually money or documents.
v. 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.”
04to pretend or feign
C2 · Proficiency Literary
v. to pretend to have a feeling or a quality.
v. 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.”
Usage
Often used attributively before a noun (e.g. 'counterfeit money').
Real-World Examples
“There have also been concerns about counterfeit glasses, through which it could be dangerous to watch the eclipse.” “She said she had been left "angry and shocked" when she had taken it to a Prada store, only to be told it was counterfeit.” Etymology
From Middle English counterfeit, countrefet, from Anglo-Norman countrefait, from Old French contrefait, from Latin contra- (“against”) + Latin facere (“to make”). Piecewise doublet of contrafactum.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/counterfeit
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0