Counterfeit Meaning
/ˈkaʊn.tɚˌfɪt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjFalse, especially of money; intended to deceive or carry appearance of being genuine.
adjInauthentic.
Sentence Examples
The counterfeit bills flooded the market over the weekend.
Those people are true experts in the counterfeit of illegal things.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The shopkeeper realized the hundred-dollar bill was ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ bills flooded the market over the weekend.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Finding out Irish people might have been slaves is kind of like finding a counterfeit bill where you're like, "You think I can use this for something?""
— 2023 October 28, Ryan Long, Irish Slaves:
"How Cownterfet Cowntenaunce of the new get / With Crafty Conueyauance dothe smater and flater, / And Cloked Collucyoun is brought in to clater / With Courtely Abusyoun; […]"
— 1523, John Skelton, “A Ryght Delectable Tratyse vpon a Goodly Garlande or Chapelet of Laurell, […]”, in Alexander Dyce, editor, The Poetical Works of John Skelton: […], volume I, London: Thomas Rodd, […], published 1843, →OCLC, page 409, lines 1193–1196:
"an arrant counterfeit rascal"
— 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene vi]:
"Never call a true piece of gold a counterfeit."
— c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:
"Some of these counterfeits are fabricated with such exquisite taste and skill, that it is the achievement of criticism to distinguish them from originals."
— 1878, Thomas Babington Macaulay, “Francis Atterbury”, in Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The shopkeeper realized the hundred-dollar bill was ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ bills flooded the market over the weekend.