Definition

A person who makes fake copies of something, usually money or documents, to deceive others.

Example

The police arrested the counterfeiter who was producing fake bills in his basement.

Conversation

Did you hear about the counterfeiter who got caught downtown?

Yeah, I read that news article! It’s crazy how they managed to make fake money.

I wonder how many people they fooled before getting caught.

Probably a lot! It's really scary to think about how easily it can happen.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Counterfeiter → It is formed from "counter-" (meaning against or opposite) and "feiter" (from the Old French *falsifier*, meaning to make false). The word describes someone who makes something false or deceptive, particularly in the context of imitation or forgery.

Memory Tip

Think of someone working 'against' the truth ('counter-') to 'make false' ('feiter') items, which helps you remember that a counterfeiter is someone who creates fake versions of something.

Visually Confused Words