# counterfeit

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈkaʊn.tɚˌfɪt/ · frequency rank #17,335

## Definitions
1. False, especially of money; intended to deceive or carry appearance of being genuine.
2. Inauthentic.
3. Assuming the appearance of something; deceitful; hypocritical.

## Etymology
From Middle English counterfeit, countrefet, from Anglo-Norman countrefait, from Old French contrefait, from Latin contra- (“against”) + Latin facere (“to make”). Piecewise doublet of contrafactum.

## Common misspellings (16)
`ccounterfeit`, `conuterfeit`, `counetrfeit`, `counnterfeit`, `countefreit`, `counterefit`, `counterfeitt`, `counterfeti`, `counterffeit`, `counterfiet`, `counterrfeit`, `countrefeit`, `countterfeit`, `coutnerfeit`, `cuonterfeit`, `ocunterfeit`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/counterfeit