What does "counterfeit" mean?
A non-genuine article; a fake.
Counterfeit
/ˈkaʊn.tɚˌfɪt/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Very common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A non-genuine article; a fake.
- Grammar: counterfeit is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: forgery, act, act a part, act like.
- Useful contrasts: real, actual outcome, authentic artifact.
- Usage evidence: The counterfeit bills flooded the market over the weekend.
How to use "counterfeit"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "counterfeit" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "counterfeit" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "counterfeit" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "counterfeit" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "counterfeit" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "forgery" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "counterfeit", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A non-genuine article; a fake.
"Never call a true piece of gold a counterfeit."
- 2 a copy that is represented as the original wordnet
- 3 One who counterfeits; a counterfeiter.
- 4 That which resembles another thing; a likeness; a portrait; a counterpart. obsolete
"Thou drawest a counterfeit / Best in all Athens."
- 5 An impostor; a cheat. obsolete
"I fear thou art another counterfeit; / And yet, in faith, thou bear'st thee like a king."
Verb
- 1 To falsely produce what appears to be official or valid; to produce a forged copy of. transitive
"to counterfeit the signature of another, coins, notes, etc."
- 2 make a copy of with the intent to deceive wordnet
- 3 To produce a faithful copy of. obsolete, transitive
"The title page of White's original album includes a descriptive title page that identifies the contents as “the pictures of sondry things collected and counterfeited according to the truth,""
- 4 To feign; to mimic. obsolete, transitive
"to counterfeit the voice of another person"
- 5 Of a turn or river card, to invalidate a player's hand by making a better hand on the board. transitive
Adjective
- 1 False, especially of money; intended to deceive or carry appearance of being genuine. not-comparable
"This counterfeit watch looks like the real thing, but it broke a week after I bought it."
- 2 Inauthentic. not-comparable
"counterfeit sympathy"
- 3 Assuming the appearance of something; deceitful; hypocritical. not-comparable
"an arrant counterfeit rascal"
Adjective
- 1 not genuine; imitating something superior wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The counterfeit bills flooded the market over the weekend."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "counterfeit"?
Common synonyms include: forgery, act, act a part, act like, adulterine, affect.
How do you use "counterfeit" in a sentence?
The counterfeit bills flooded the market over the weekend.
How do you pronounce "counterfeit"?
Pronounced /ˈkaʊn.tɚˌfɪt/.
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.