fake

¹

[ feyk ]

verb (used with object)

, faked, fak·ing.

1. prepare or make (something specious, deceptive, or fraudulent):

   to fake a report showing nonexistent profits.

2. to conceal the defects of or make appear more attractive, interesting, valuable, etc., usually in order to deceive:

   The story was faked a bit to make it more sensational.

3. to pretend; simulate:

   to fake illness.

   Synonyms: fabricate, sham, dissemble, affect, feign

4. to accomplish by trial and error or by improvising:

   I don't know the job, but I can fake it.

5. to trick or deceive (an opponent) by making a fake (often followed by out ):

   The running back faked out the defender with a deft move and scored.

6. Jazz.
   1. to improvise:

      to fake an accompaniment.

   2. to play (music) without reading from a score.

verb (used without object)

, faked, fak·ing.

1. to fake something; pretend.
2. to give a fake to an opponent.

noun

1. anything made to appear otherwise than it actually is; counterfeit:

   This diamond necklace is a fake.

2. a person who fakes; faker:

   The doctor with the reputed cure for cancer proved to be a fake.

   Synonyms: deceiver, charlatan, quack, impostor, fraud

3. a spurious report or story.
4. Sports. a simulated play or move intended to deceive an opponent.

adjective

1. designed to deceive or cheat; not real; counterfeit.

verb phrase

1. Slang.
   1. to trick; deceive:

      She faked me out by acting friendly and then stole my job.

   2. to surprise, as by a sudden reversal:

      They thought we weren't coming back, but we faked them out by showing up during dinner.

fake

²

[ feyk ]

verb (used with object)

, faked, fak·ing.

1. to lay (a rope) in a coil or series of long loops so as to allow to run freely without fouling or kinking (often followed by down ).

noun

1. any complete turn of a rope that has been faked down.
2. any of the various ways in which a rope may be faked down.

fake

¹

/ feɪk /

verb

1. tr to cause (something inferior or not genuine) to appear more valuable, desirable, or real by fraud or pretence
2. to pretend to have (an illness, emotion, etc)

   to fake a headache

3. to improvise (music, stage dialogue, etc)

noun

1. an object, person, or act that is not genuine; sham, counterfeit, or forgery

adjective

1. not genuine; spurious

fake

²

/ feɪk /

verb

1. trusually foll bydown to coil (a rope) on deck

noun

1. one round of a coil of rope

Derived Forms

• ˈfaker, noun
• ˈfakery, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fake¹

First recorded in 1805–15; originally vagrants' slang: “to do for, rob, kill (someone), shape (something)”; perhaps variant of obsolete feak, feague “to beat,” akin to Dutch veeg “a slap,” vegen “to sweep, wipe”

Origin of fake²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English faken “to coil (a rope),” of obscure origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of fake¹

originally (C18) thieves' slang to mug or do someone; probably via Polari from Italian facciare to make or do

Origin of fake²

Middle English faken , perhaps via Lingua Franca from Italian facciare to make or do; see fake ¹

Example Sentences

He routinely called us “fake news” and insulted us.

From Salon

With the Supreme Court backing him, Trump will ban reporters the administration deems “fake news” or “enemies of the people.”

From Salon

Of course, valuing the fake over the real is Donald Trump's modus operandi.

From Salon

Anyone But You star Sydney Sweeney has said the idea of women supporting each other in the film and TV industry is "fake".

From BBC

Tori-Singh called the report “fake news” and said that her cousin was still missing.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• counterfeit
• deception
• fabrication
• forgery
• hoax
• phony
• scam
• sham
• trick