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DictionarymountebankFraudulent pretender
noun

mountebank

MOUN-tih-bank/ˈmaʊntɪbæŋk/

A person who deceives others by pretending to have knowledge or skills.

The mountebank passes off a painted brick as genuine gold.

A dishonest market seller offers a supposedly solid-gold bar to a customer while concealing ordinary bricks and gold paint beneath his counter.
Etymology
mounteItalianto mount
+bankItalianbench

The image is of someone mounting a bench to attract a crowd while selling supposed cures. The name for this public quack broadened to mean any fraud making boastful, false claims.

In context

Shakespeare Network184:00
I bought an unction of a mountebank, So mortal that
Hamlet - Kenneth Branagh - Shakespeare - 1992 - Multiple Subtitles - HD Restored Edition - 4K

More examples

  • She exposes the supposed healer as a mountebank.
  • These mountebanks charge for scientific advice they are unqualified to give.
  • The charming mountebank claims he can predict stock prices.

Forms

mountebank · mountebanks

Similar words

charlatan
A close synonym emphasizing fraudulent claims of professional expertise.
quack
Specifically pretends to have medical knowledge or healing skills.
impostor
Deceives by assuming a false identity, not necessarily expertise.