counterfeit

/ˈkaʊn.tɚˌfɪt/

Group 34Difficulty 1/3

Definitions

(adjective)
Made in exact imitation of something valuable with the intention to deceive or defraud
GRE
(verb)
To imitate fraudulently
GRE

Example in Context

The counterfeit documents were so skilfully produced that they passed initial inspection and were only detected by forensic analysis.

Etymology

Made against something genuine to deceive.

  • counter- (Latin) — against
  • feit (French) — made

Memory Aid

💵Sounds like “counterfeit

A COUNTERFEIT bill disguised as a superhero, trying to fool everyone into thinking it's LEGIT!

Visual Association

🦸‍♂️A superhero dollar bill with a cape, attempting to save the day while looking suspicious.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “counterfeit” mean on the GRE?

counterfeit (adjective) means “Made in exact imitation of something valuable with the intention to deceive or defraud”. The counterfeit documents were so skilfully produced that they passed initial inspection and were only detected by forensic analysis.

How to remember “counterfeit” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “counterfeit” sounds like “counterfeit”. A COUNTERFEIT bill disguised as a superhero, trying to fool everyone into thinking it's LEGIT!