fake
n. countablen. an object that looks real but is actually a copy or a trick. You use this word for things like painted jewelry or documents that are not original.
n. an object, person, or act that is not genuine or authentic despite appearances. Often used to describe counterfeit goods or deceptive behavior.
The diamond ring turned out to be a cheap fake.
The museum removed the painting from the gallery after experts discovered it was a clever fake.
While the signature appeared authentic to the untrained eye, forensic analysis of the ink revealed the document was a sophisticated fake produced within the last decade.
The origin is not known with certainty, although first attested in 1775 C.E. in British criminals' slang. It is probably from feak, feague (“to give a better appearance through artificial means, spruce up, embellish”), itself from German Low German fegen, from Middle Low German vēgen, from Old Saxon fegōn, from Proto-West Germanic *fegōn (“to clean up, polish”). Akin to Dutch veeg (“a swipe”), Dutch vegen (“to sweep, wipe”); German fegen (“to sweep, to polish”). Compare also Old English fācn (“deceit, fraud”). Perhaps related also to Old Norse fjúka (“to fade, vanquish, disappear”), Old Norse feikn (“strange, scary, unnatural”).
From Middle English faken (“to coil a rope”).
Commonly used as a modifier before other nouns, such as 'fake news' or 'fake fur'.