Definition

A person who pretends to have skills or knowledge that they do not actually possess, often to deceive others.

Example

The so-called expert turned out to be a charlatan who had no real qualifications.

Conversation

Did you hear about that new self-help guru everyone is talking about?

Yeah, I saw some videos — he seems like a real charlatan to me.

I agree! His claims are just too outrageous to be true.

Exactly, it's frustrating how people fall for a charlatan like him.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Charlatan comes from the Italian word 'ciarlatano', which means a 'quack' or 'faker'. The root 'ciarlare' means 'to chatter' or 'to talk nonsense'. The word originally referred to someone who deceives others through empty talk or false claims.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who 'chats' ('ciarlare') a lot but doesn't say anything of substance — that's why a charlatan is someone who deceives with empty talk.

Visually Confused Words