Definition

Referring to something that is a poor or artificial substitute for something else, often of lower quality.

Example

The restaurant served ersatz coffee that tasted nothing like the real thing.

Conversation

Have you tried that new coffee place downtown?

Not yet, but I heard their coffee is ersatz and not very good.

That's disappointing! I was hoping for something better than that.

Yeah, I think I'll stick to my usual spot for now.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ersatz comes from German, meaning substitute or replacement. It refers to something that is an inferior imitation of something else.

Memory Tip

Think of 'ersatz' as a German word for a substitute, helping you remember that it refers to something that is not genuine but rather an imitation.

Visually Confused Words