counterfeit Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a copy that is represented as the original
    forgery.
  2. verb make a copy of with the intent to deceive
    forge; fake.
    • he faked the signature
    • they counterfeited dollar bills
    • She forged a Green Card
  3. adjective not genuine; imitating something superior
    imitative.
    • counterfeit emotion
    • counterfeit money
    • counterfeit works of art
    • a counterfeit prince

WordNet

Coun"ter*feit adjective
Etymology
F. contrefait, p. p. of contrefaire to counterfeit; contre (L. contra) + faire to make, fr. L. facere. See Counter, adv., and Fact.
Definitions
  1. Representing by imitation or likeness; having a resemblance to something else; portrayed.
    Look here upon this picture, and on this- The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. Shak.
  2. Fabricated in imitation of something else, with a view to defraud by passing the false copy for genuine or original; as, counterfeit antiques; counterfeit coin. "No counterfeit gem." Robinson (More's Utopia).
  3. Assuming the appearance of something; false; spurious; deceitful; hypocritical; as, a counterfeit philanthropist. "An arrant counterfeit rascal." Shak. Syn. -- Forged; fictitious; spurious; false.
Coun"ter*feit noun
Definitions
  1. That which resembles or is like another thing; a likeness; a portrait; a counterpart.
    Thou drawest a counterfeit Best in all Athens. Shak.
    Even Nature's self envied the same, And grudged to see the counterfeit should shame The thing itself. Spenser.
  2. That which is made in imitation of something, with a view to deceive by passing the false for the true; as, the bank note was a counterfeit.
    Never call a true piece of gold a counterfeit. Shak.
    Some of these counterfeits are fabricated with such exquisite taste and skill, that it is the achievement of criticism to distinguish them from originals. Macaulay.
  3. One who pretends to be what he is not; one who personates another; an impostor; a cheat.
    I fear thou art another counterfeit; And yet, in faith, thou bears'st thee like a king. Shak.
Coun"ter*feit transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Counterfeited; present participle & verbal noun Counterfeiting
Definitions
  1. To imitate, or put on a semblance of; to mimic; as, to counterfeit the voice of another person.
    Full well they laughed with counterfeited glee At all his jokes, for many a joke had he. Goldsmith.
  2. To imitate with a view to deceiving, by passing the copy for that which is original or genuine; to forge; as, to counterfeit the signature of another, coins, notes, etc.
Coun"ter*feit intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To carry on a deception; to dissemble; to feign; to pretend.
    The knave counterfeits well; a good knave. Shak.
  2. To make counterfeits.

Webster 1913