Meaning & use

fake

adjective·Everyday

Not genuine or real; made to look like something else in order to deceive.

See it in a sentence

She bought a fake designer handbag from a street vendor for a fraction of the price.

The detective quickly realized the passport was fake, not an official document.

A note on using this word

"Fake" can also function as a noun meaning a fraud, or a verb meaning to pretend, depending on context.

Words with a similar meaning

counterfeitphony

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

genuineauthentic

Another way to use it

2. verb

To pretend to have or feel something that is not real, in order to deceive others.

He faked a smile even though he was deeply disappointed by the news.

Make it your own

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