counterfeit
gb/kˈaʊntɚfˌɪt/ us/kˈaʊntɚfˌɪt/
B2
English
hamis, hamisítvány, hamisít, színlelt
B2
1
hamis
A2
Usage pattern:
counterfeit [money/goods/documents]
Police seized thousands of counterfeit designer bags from the warehouse.
A rendőrség több ezer hamisított márkás táskát foglalt le a raktárban.
The cashier refused to accept the note because it looked counterfeit.
A pénztáros nem volt hajlandó elfogadni a bankjegyet, mert hamisnak tűnt.
The website was selling counterfeit tickets for the concert.
Learner examples
This watch is counterfeit, not real.
Ez az óra hamis, nem eredeti.
The shop sold counterfeit goods.
A bolt hamis árut árult.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse counterfeit with counterpart. Counterfeit usually suggests illegal deception, not just any copy.
Meaning
fake and meant to deceive
Collocations
counterfeit money
|counterfeit currency
|counterfeit goods
|counterfeit products
|counterfeit documents
|counterfeit passport
|counterfeit bills
|counterfeit medicine
|counterfeit watch
|counterfeit designer bag
Synonyms
fake (more general and common; may be less strongly connected with crime)
|
forged (often used for documents, signatures, or money)
|
bogus (informal; means not real or not legitimate)
Antonyms
genuine (real and not fake)
|
authentic (confirmed as real or original)
|
legitimate (lawful or officially accepted)
Themes
crime
|business
|money
|consumer_goods
Definition
Counterfeit things are fake but are made to look real.
made to look like something genuine, especially money, documents, or branded goods, in order to deceive people.
NOUN
B2
2
hamisítvány
B2
Usage pattern:
a counterfeit; counterfeits; a counterfeit of [something]
The painting looked valuable, but experts later proved it was a counterfeit.
A festmény értékesnek tűnt, de a szakértők később bebizonyították, hogy hamisítvány volt.
Several counterfeits were found during the customs inspection.
A vámellenőrzés során több hamisítványt találtak.
This handbag is a counterfeit of a famous luxury brand.
Learner examples
The bill was a counterfeit.
A bankjegy hamisítvány volt.
They found many counterfeits in the market.
Sok hamisítványt találtak a piacon.
Common mistake:
As a noun, counterfeit is countable: say a counterfeit or counterfeits, not usually counterfeit alone when you mean one item.
Meaning
a fake copy
Collocations
spot a counterfeit
|detect a counterfeit
|identify a counterfeit
|sell counterfeits
|buy counterfeits
|seize counterfeits
|a convincing counterfeit
|a cheap counterfeit
|a high-quality counterfeit
|a counterfeit of a painting
Synonyms
fake (more general and informal)
|
forgery (often refers to fake documents, signatures, money, or artworks)
|
imitation (can be neutral and not necessarily illegal)
Antonyms
original (the real first version, not a copy)
|
genuine article (informal phrase for the real thing)
|
authentic item (an item verified as real)
Themes
crime
|business
|money
|consumer_goods
Definition
A counterfeit is a fake thing that is made to look real.
an item, especially money, a document, or a product, that has been made to look genuine in order to deceive people.
VERB
B2
3
hamisít
B1
Usage pattern:
counterfeit [money/documents/goods]
The group was arrested for counterfeiting passports and identity cards.
A csoport tagjait letartóztatták, mert útleveleket és személyi igazolványokat hamisítottak.
It is illegal to counterfeit currency or knowingly use it.
Törvénybe ütközik pénzt hamisítani vagy azt tudatosan felhasználni.
Criminals had been counterfeiting the company’s packaging and selling cheap copies online.
Learner examples
They tried to counterfeit money.
Pénzt próbáltak hamisítani.
The police stopped a gang that counterfeited documents.
A rendőrség megállított egy bandát, amely okmányokat hamisított.
Common mistake:
For signatures and legal documents, forge is often more common than counterfeit, though the meanings overlap.
Meaning
make a fake copy
Collocations
counterfeit money
|counterfeit currency
|counterfeit banknotes
|counterfeit documents
|counterfeit passports
|counterfeit goods
|counterfeit medicines
|be accused of counterfeiting
|counterfeiting operation
|counterfeit a brand
Synonyms
forge (especially common for signatures, documents, money, or artworks)
|
fake (more general and less formal)
|
copy fraudulently (explicitly describes the illegal purpose)
Antonyms
authenticate (to prove that something is genuine rather than fake)
|
verify (to check and confirm that something is real or valid)
Themes
crime
|business
|money
|law
Definition
To counterfeit something is to make a fake version of it to trick people.
to make an illegal or deceptive copy of money, documents, goods, or something similar so that it appears genuine.
C1
FORMAL
4
színlelt
C1
Usage pattern:
counterfeit [emotion/quality]
She greeted him with a counterfeit smile and quickly looked away.
Színlelt mosollyal üdvözölte, majd gyorsan elfordította a tekintetét.
The speech was full of counterfeit concern for ordinary workers.
A beszéd tele volt a hétköznapi dolgozók iránti színlelt aggodalommal.
His counterfeit confidence disappeared as soon as the questions began.
Learner examples
His smile looked counterfeit.
A mosolya színleltnek tűnt.
She showed counterfeit sympathy.
Színlelt együttérzést mutatott.
Common mistake:
This use is less common and more formal than fake or false in everyday conversation.
Meaning
not sincere or real
Collocations
counterfeit smile
|counterfeit enthusiasm
|counterfeit sympathy
|counterfeit confidence
|counterfeit affection
|counterfeit charm
|counterfeit modesty
|counterfeit concern
Synonyms
false (common for feelings or appearances that are not genuine)
|
feigned (formal; deliberately pretended)
|
insincere (focuses on lack of honest feeling)
Antonyms
sincere (showing real feeling or belief)
|
genuine (real rather than pretended)
|
heartfelt (deeply and honestly felt)
Themes
emotions
|behavior
|communication
Definition
A counterfeit feeling or attitude is not real, but is shown as if it were real.
not sincere or real; deliberately made to seem like a genuine feeling, quality, or attitude.
Grammar
Dictionary form
counterfeit
IPA
GB/kˈaʊntɚfˌɪt/
US/kˈaʊntɚfˌɪt/
Syllables & stress
coun - ter - feit (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (coun)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: counterfeit
Noun
- Base: counterfeit
- Plural: counterfeits
Verb
- Base: counterfeit
- 3rd Person Singular: counterfeits
- Present Participle: counterfeiting
- Past: counterfeited
Expressions
counterfeit check
1/kˈaʊntɚfˌɪt t͡ʃˈɛk/
fixed phrase
fake bank check
A counterfeit check is a fake check used to trick a person or bank.
Examples
- The scammer sent a counterfeit check and asked her to return part of the money.
- Banks may take days to discover that a deposited check is counterfeit.
- He was accused of trying to cash a counterfeit check.
Learner examples
- The check was counterfeit.
- She received a counterfeit check.
counterfeit document
1/kˈaʊntɚfˌɪt dˈɑkjəmənt/
fixed phrase
fake official document
A counterfeit document is a fake document that is made to look real.
Examples
- Border officials discovered a counterfeit document in his luggage.
- The company strengthened its checks to prevent the use of counterfeit documents.
- She was charged with possessing counterfeit documents.
Learner examples
- The passport was a counterfeit document.
- They used counterfeit documents.
counterfeit goods
1/kˈaʊntɚfˌɪt ɡˈʊdz/
fixed phrase
fake branded products
Counterfeit goods are fake products sold as if they were real brand products.
Examples
- Customs officers seized counterfeit goods worth millions of dollars.
- Online marketplaces are under pressure to remove counterfeit goods.
- Tourists were warned not to buy counterfeit goods from street vendors.
Learner examples
- They sold counterfeit goods online.
- The bag was part of a shipment of counterfeit goods.
counterfeit medicine
1/kˈaʊntɚfˌɪt mˈɛdɪsən/
fixed phrase
fake or unsafe medicine
Counterfeit medicine is fake medicine that may be dangerous because it is not the real drug.
Examples
- Counterfeit medicine can put patients’ lives at risk.
- The agency warned consumers about counterfeit medicines sold on unlicensed websites.
- Investigators found counterfeit medicine in bottles that looked almost identical to the real product.
Learner examples
- Counterfeit medicine can be dangerous.
- The website sold counterfeit medicines.
counterfeit money
1/kˈaʊntɚfˌɪt mˈʌni/
fixed phrase
fake coins or banknotes
Counterfeit money is fake money that looks real.
Examples
- The store trains staff to recognize counterfeit money.
- He was arrested after trying to pay with counterfeit money.
- Banks use special machines to detect counterfeit money.
Learner examples
- The money was counterfeit.
- Do not use counterfeit money.