counterfeiting
|coun-ter-feit-ing|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈkaʊntərˌfɪtɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈkaʊntəˌfɪtɪŋ/
(counterfeit)
fake imitation
Etymology
Etymology Information
'counterfeit' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'contrefaire,' where 'contre-' meant 'against' and 'faire' meant 'to make.'
Historical Evolution
'contrefaire' transformed into the Middle English word 'countrefeten,' and eventually became the modern English word 'counterfeit'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to make in opposition,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to make a fraudulent imitation.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
the act of making an imitation of something valuable with the intent to deceive or defraud.
The gang was arrested for counterfeiting currency.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45