adjective / verb / noun
fake
FAYK/feɪk/
A false presentation intended to pass as genuine.
The fake apple has two plastic halves and a hollow center.
Etymology
The ancestry is unknown. The adjective already meant “counterfeit” in early London criminal slang, so its association with deceptive appearances is directly attested rather than inferred from a root.
In context
Europeans said buying counterfeit goods is acceptable if the genuine product is too expensive. Among young people, that rose to one in two. So why would someone knowingly buy a fake luxury handbag or a pair of fake designer sneakers?
More examples
- The painting looks valuable, but an expert calls it a fake.
- She fakes a cough to avoid answering the question.
- His quick fake sends the defender in the wrong direction.
Forms
fake · fakes · faked · faking · faker · fakest
faker noun — Someone who pretends or produces false things.
fakery noun — The practice of presenting something false as genuine.
Similar words
- counterfeit
- Usually describes money or goods copied to deceive buyers.
- phony
- Often describes insincere people, feelings, or claims.
- feint
- Specifically names a deceptive movement in sports or combat.