charlatan

[ shahr-luh-tn ]

noun

1. a person who pretends or claims to have more knowledge or skill than they possess; fraud; quack.

   Synonyms: phony, fake, fraud, mountebank, impostor

charlatan

/ ˈʃɑːlətən /

noun

1. someone who professes knowledge or expertise, esp in medicine, that he or she does not have; quack

Derived Forms

• ˈcharlatanˌism, noun
• ˌcharlatanˈistic, adjective

Other Words From

• char·la·tan·ic [shahr-l, uh, -, tan, -ik], char·la·tan·i·cal char·la·tan·ish char·la·tan·is·tic adjective
• char·la·tan·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of charlatan¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Middle French, from Italian ciarlatano, equivalent to ciarla(tore) “chatterer” (derivative of ciarlare “to chatter”; from imitative root) + (cerre)tano “hawker, quack,” literally, “native of Cerreto, ” a village in Umbria, known for its quacks

Word History and Origins

Origin of charlatan¹

C17: from French, from Italian ciarlatano, from ciarlare to chatter

Example Sentences

This same conflict between fact-checking and fiction has played out countless times over the past decade, to the detriment of pretty much everyone except the transparent charlatan who is, for the third consecutive election cycle, the Republican presidential nominee.

From Slate

Some said they were tricked by his anti-establishment rhetoric, only to realize he was just another politician looking out for himself; others always knew he was a charlatan, they said, but voted for him anyways because voting for Republicans is just what Republicans do.

From Salon

“You abused your position and you’re a charlatan who used and is still using your prior position in office to peddle a snake oil that’s been proven to be junk time and time again.”

From Los Angeles Times

In the appearance vs. reality debate, the Democrats are finally understanding they need to destroy the appearance that Trump is a strong man and expose him for the weak-kneed charlatan that he is.

From Salon

Crypto aficionados dismissed Dr. Wright as a charlatan.

From New York Times

Related Words

• con artist