# quack

/ˈkwæk/ (US) · /kwˈæk/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/quack
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

someone who pretends to be a doctor or an expert but does not actually have the skills or training. You use this word to describe a person who sells fake medicine or gives bad medical advice.

For teachers: a person who dishonestly claims to have medical knowledge or other specialised skills. Often used to describe practitioners of fraudulent medicine or those promoting unproven remedies.

## Examples

- Don't listen to that quack; his herbal cures don't work.
- The authorities shut down the clinic after discovering the lead surgeon was a quack with no medical degree.
- While the internet provides access to vast amounts of health information, it also allows every quack with a social media account to peddle dangerous misinformation to vulnerable patients.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a derogatory term for someone in the medical field.

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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.