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fakenoun2 & adjective

Meaning & use

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Earlier version

fake, n.² in OED Second Edition (1989)

Originally slang, and chiefly colloquial until the mid 20th cent.

noun
1. 1. 1.a.
    1829–
    
    In earliest use: an activity or action, typically one characterized by dishonesty or deception. Later (from the mid to late 19th century) usually more specifically: a stratagem, a trick, a dodge; a method of swindling, a con; an act of tampering with or falsifying something.
    1829
    With..the fogle-hunters doing. Their morning fake in the prigging lay.
    W. Maginn, Noctes Ambrosianæ in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine July 133
    1847
    He meant to..come, if required, the prolonging ‘fake’, to tire, weaken, and harrass his adversary.
    Bell's Life in London 4 July 7/4
    1851
    I tried the same caper; but my pal cut with the gold ring the first day, and I've never had another go at that fake since.
    H. Mayhew, London Labour vol. I. 352/2
    1877
    Two of the same four, were taken to the Armory for swindling L. A. Parker..out of $30 by means of the same old game, the snide jewelry ‘fake’.
    Inter Ocean (Chicago) 28 March 8/4
    1887
    D..is generally regarded as the father of the testimonial fake.
    Financial News 24 March 1/4
    1922
    Have you seen what he's giving you for your hard-earned money..? It's laundry soap, that's what it is! It's a fake, all a fake!
    Saturday Evening Post 23 September 97/2
    1954
    Forger tries traveller's cheque fake.
    Daily Mail 8 May 3/4 (headline)
    2019
    The sheer fact that a victim has been strung along by someone they thought was a future husband and discover it was all a fake.
    Daily Telegraph (Nexis) 25 March 9
    colloquial and slang
    the world action or operation ability skill or skilfulness cunning [nouns] a wile or cunning device
    craftOld English–1876
    
    Skill or ingenuity used to deceive, mislead, or to secure an unfair advantage. As a count noun: an example of cunning or deceitful behaviour; a…
    wrenchOld English–1632
    
    A crooked, cunning, or wily action or device; a trick, wile, or artifice. Frequently coupled with wile.
    turnc1225–
    
    A cunning device; a trick, a wile, a stratagem; a prank. Now Scottish.
    ginc1275–1723
    
    An instance or product of ingenuity; a contrivance, scheme, or device. Also: an artifice, a trick (cf. engine, n. I.2). Obsolete.
    play?a1300–
    
    An act or proceeding, esp. of a treacherous, crafty, or underhand kind; manner of action, method of proceeding; a trick, dodge, racket, scam. Now…
    enginec1300–1781
    
    An instance or a product of ingenuity; a contrivance or means. With pejorative connotation: a plot, a snare, a wile. Obsolete.
    wrenkc1325–1568
    
    = wrench, n.¹ 1. Frequently coupled with wile.
    forsetc1330
    
    ? A stratagem.
    sleightc1340–
    
    A cunning trick; an artful device or design; a piece of subtle dealing or policy, intended to deceive or mislead; an artifice, ruse, stratagem, or…
    knackc1369–
    
    A trick; a device, artifice; formerly often, a deceitful or crafty device, a mean or underhand trick; later esp. an adroit or ingenious method of…
    cautela1390–1611
    
    A crafty device, artifice, stratagem; a trick, sleight, deceit.
    subtletya1393–1891
    
    A cunning or crafty scheme; an artifice; a trick; a clever stratagem. Obsolete.
    wilea1400–
    
    Without implication of deceit: A subtle contrivance; a skilful device or scheme; an artifice, ‘dodge’. Obsolete or merged in preceding sense.
    tramc1400–1616
    
    A cunning contrivance or device; a machination, plot, scheme.
    wrinkle1402–1578
    
    A crooked or tortuous action; a crafty device; a trick or wile. Obsolete.
    artc1405–
    
    A stratagem, wile, or cunning device; a contrivance. Chiefly in plural.
    policy?1406–1849
    
    A device, a contrivance, an expedient; a stratagem, a trick. Obsolete.
    subtilityc1410–1748
    
    A cunning or crafty scheme; a trick; a clever stratagem; = subtlety, n. 3a. Obsolete.
    subtiltyc1440–1854
    
    A cunning or crafty scheme; a trick; a clever stratagem; = subtlety, n. 3a. Obsolete.
    jeopardy1487–1540
    
    A device, trick, stratagem. Obsolete.
    jouk1513–
    
    A sudden elusive movement; a quick turn out of the way; figurative a ‘dodge’. to give (a person) the jouk: to give the slip, to elude, escape from.
    pawka1522–1811
    
    Scottish. A trick, an artifice, a cunning device. Obsolete.
    frask1524–42
    
    A trick.
    false point?1528
    
    Of a balance, measure: Not truly adjusted, incorrect. Also, Of play: Unfair. Of dice: Loaded so as to fall unfairly. false point n. a stroke of…
    conveyance1534–1661
    
    (With a and plural) A secret or cunning device, an artifice, a trick of jugglery. Obsolete.
    compass1540–58
    
    A crafty contrivance or artifice; a stratagem.
    fineness1546–1872
    
    Shrewdness, astuteness; adroitness in deceit or evasion; cunning, craftiness. Also: a clever or devious stratagem, a ploy. Obsolete (rare after…
    far-fetch?a1562–1678
    
    A deeply-laid or cunning stratagem.
    stratagem1561–
    
    A plan, a scheme; esp. one devised to achieve a particular end, gain an advantage, or outwit an opponent; (often with the implication of…
    finesse1562–
    
    A clever or devious stratagem, a trick. Cf. fineness, n. 4.
    entrapping1564–
    
    The action of entrap, v.¹ (in various senses); an instance of this.
    convoyance1578–1664
    
    Originally and chiefly Scottish. Ingenious or devious management or contrivance; a cunning stratagem or trick. Cf. conveyance, n. I.11.
    lift1592–
    
    An act of lifting or stealing; in older use, †a shift, trick. Obsolete exc. dialect.
    imagine1594–1645
    
    A device, contrivance, subtle means. Cf. imaginement, n.
    agitation1600–
    
    The consideration, debate, or discussion of a matter, esp. a plan; the urging or promotion of a proposal; planning, scheming. Also: a scheme, a…
    springe1607–
    
    figurative. A stratagem designed to deceive a person or lead him or her into a dangerous situation; a trap, a snare.
    subtleship1614
    
    A cunning or crafty act, a trick; = subtlety, n. 3a.
    artifice1620–
    
    Now the usual sense. An ingenious expedient, a clever stratagem; (chiefly in negative sense) a manoeuvre or device intended to deceive, a trick.
    navation1628
    
    A contrivance, a scheme, a plan.
    wimple1638–
    
    A crafty turn or twist; a wile. Scottish.
    rig1640–
    
    colloquial. A dishonest or fraudulent scheme or enterprise; a trick, a swindle. Also: something used to deceive or defraud a person.
    lapwing stratagem1676–
    
    feint1679–
    
    transferred and figurative. An assumed appearance; a pretence, stratagem.
    undercraft1691–1765
    
    A sly, underhand trick.
    fly-flap1726
    
    A stroke with a fly-flap; (in quot. 1726) figurative, an adroit manœuvre, a cunning prank. Obsolete.
    management1736–48
    
    A contrivance, device; a piece of trickery. Obsolete.
    fakement1811–
    
    A scheme or device (typically for some dishonest purpose), a ploy, a dodge, a trick; (sometimes more vaguely) a thing, an item.
    old tricka1822–
    
    A frequently used stratagem; (more generally) a habit or idiosyncrasy, frequently in up to one's old tricks.
    fake1829–
    
    In earliest use: an activity or action, typically one characterized by dishonesty or deception. Later (from the mid to late 19th century) usually…
    swiftie1945–
    
    An act of deception, a trick or sleight; = roughie, n. 3. Also in to pull a swiftie (cf. to pull a fast one at fast, adj. phrases P.3, and pull, v.…
    shrewdie1961–
    
    A cunning trick. rare.
    View in Historical Thesaurus
    the mind operation of the mind knowledge conformity with what is known, truth deceit, deception, trickery [nouns] a trick, deception
    braidOld English–1570
    
    An adroit turn; a trick or subtilty. (Cf. braid, v.¹ II; Old Norse bregðask to change unexpectedly, disappoint, deceive; Old English brægd-boga a…
    craftOld English–1876
    
    Skill or ingenuity used to deceive, mislead, or to secure an unfair advantage. As a count noun: an example of cunning or deceitful behaviour; a…
    swikeOld English–
    
    Deceit, deception, treachery; an act of deception, a trick.
    wrenchOld English–1632
    
    A crooked, cunning, or wily action or device; a trick, wile, or artifice. Frequently coupled with wile.
    wile1154–
    
    A crafty, cunning, or deceitful trick; a sly, insidious, or underhand artifice; a stratagem, ruse. Formerly sometimes in somewhat wider sense: A…
    crookc1175–1594
    
    figurative. A crooked piece of conduct; a trick, artifice, wile; deceit, guile, trickery. Obsolete.
    trokingc1175–1225
    
    Failure, lack; deceit.
    guile?c1225–1767
    
    With a and plural. An instance of this; a deceit, stratagem, trick, wile. Obsolete.
    hocket1276–1500
    
    Hitch, obstacle; interruption; chicane, trick.
    blink1303
    
    A trick, stratagem; = blench, n.
    errorc1320
    
    A delusion, trick. Obsolete. rare.
    guileryc1330–
    
    With a and plural. An instance of deceit, an act of treachery, a trick.
    sleightc1340–
    
    A cunning trick; an artful device or design; a piece of subtle dealing or policy, intended to deceive or mislead; an artifice, ruse, stratagem, or…
    knackc1369–
    
    A trick; a device, artifice; formerly often, a deceitful or crafty device, a mean or underhand trick; later esp. an adroit or ingenious method of…
    deceitc1380–
    
    (With a and plural) An instance of deception; an act or device intended to deceive; a trick, stratagem, wile.
    japec1380–1820
    
    A trick, a device to deceive or cheat. Obsolete since 1515, but used by Scott.
    gaudc1386–1896
    
    A trick, prank; often, a device to deceive, a piece of trickery, a pretence; also a game, sport, or pastime. Obsolete.
    syllogism1387–
    
    transferred and allusively. An argument or something ironically or humorously regarded as such, esp. a specious or subtle argument or piece of…
    mazec1390–1500
    
    A delusive fancy; a trick or deception. Obsolete.
    mowa1393–1721
    
    Scottish. A trick, a prank; a jest, a quip. Obsolete.
    train?a1400–1838
    
    An act or scheme designed to deceive or entrap, a trick, stratagem, artifice, wile. Also: a lie, a false story.
    trantc1400–1540
    
    Cunning action, trickery; a stratagem, a trick (always in an evil sense).
    abusionc1405–1640
    
    Perversion of the truth; deceit, deception; an instance of this. Also: heresy.
    creekc1405–1627
    
    figurative. A crooked device; a trick, artifice, contrivance. Obsolete.
    trickc1412–
    
    A crafty or fraudulent device of a mean or base kind; an artifice to deceive or cheat; a stratagem, ruse, wile; esp. in phrase to play (show) one a…
    trayc1430–40
    
    Deceit, stratagem, ambush, trick.
    lirtc1440–1887
    
    Deception, trick.
    quaint?a1450–
    
    A curious or clever ornament or device. Also: a cunning trick. Now rare.
    touch1481–1833
    
    An act; a brief stint or ‘go’ at an activity or undertaking; a try or attempt at doing something. In early use also: an attempt at deceiving, a…
    pawka1522–1811
    
    Scottish. A trick, an artifice, a cunning device. Obsolete.
    false point?1528
    
    Of a balance, measure: Not truly adjusted, incorrect. Also, Of play: Unfair. Of dice: Loaded so as to fall unfairly. false point n. a stroke of…
    practice1533–
    
    A scheme, a conspiracy; a stratagem, a trick. Frequently in plural. Now rare.
    crink1534–87
    
    An intricate, esp. deceptive, turn or twist of thought, speech, etc.; an intricate deception or sleight. Obsolete.
    flim-flamc1538–
    
    A paltry attempt at deception; a contemptible trick or pretence; a piece of humbug. Cf. flam, n.¹ A.3.
    bobc1540–1682
    
    A trick, deception, befoolment. to give (a person) the bob: to mock, make a fool of, impose upon.
    fetcha1547–
    
    A contrivance, dodge, stratagem, trick; also, a fetch of law, a fetch of policy, a fetch of state, and to cast a fetch.
    abuse1551–1717
    
    Imposture, deceit; delusion; an instance of this. Obsolete.
    block1553–86
    
    A scheme, an intrigue, a plot.
    wrinklec1555
    
    A crooked or tortuous action; a crafty device; a trick or wile. Obsolete.
    far-fetch?a1562–1678
    
    A deeply-laid or cunning stratagem.
    blirre1570
    
    A deception.
    slampant1577–1611
    
    A trick. to give one the (or a) slampant, to play a trick on, to circumvent or hoodwink, one.
    ruse1581–
    
    A trick, stratagem, or wile.
    forgery1582–
    
    Invention, excogitation; fictitious invention, fiction. Now only poetic. Formerly also with more reproachful sense: †Deception, lying; a…
    crank1588–1644
    
    figurative. A crooked or deceitful way; a deceit, wile, sleight. Obsolete.
    plait1589–1855
    
    figurative. A complication, an aberration; a quirk, a snag, a wrinkle; something obscured, concealed, or hidden away, esp. in order to mislead or…
    crossbite1591–1713
    
    A cheat, trick, swindle, deception.
    cozenage1592–
    
    (With a and plural) An act of cozening; a deception, a fraud; a result or embodiment of cozening, a piece of deception.
    lock1598–
    
    A tight grip on a person, esp. (Wrestling) a hold on a particular limb or part of the body, used to restrain another person or prevent him or her…
    quiblin1605–31
    
    A pun or quibble; a trick.
    foist1607–77
    
    A piece of roguery, trick.
    junt1608
    
    A trick, cheat.
    firk1611–82
    
    A trick, dodge, subterfuge. Also, a freak, prank, caprice.
    overreach?1615–1859
    
    An act of gaining an advantage by deception; a trick; (Cards) an act of cheating when dealing. Cf. overreach, v. 5. Obsolete.
    fob1622–
    
    A trick, an artifice. Now only slang, to come the fob on (U.S.): to impose upon, cheat, trick.
    ludification1623–
    
    A deception or mocking.
    knick-knacka1625–73
    
    A petty trick, sleight, artifice, subterfuge.
    flam1632–
    
    A sham story, fabrication, falsehood; a piece of deception, a trick.
    dodge1638–
    
    A shifty trick, an artifice to elude or cheat.
    gimcrack1639–40
    
    A fanciful notion; also, a ‘dodge’, underhand design. Obsolete.
    fourbe1654–91
    
    A trick, an imposture.
    juggle1664–
    
    A piece of juggling; a trick or act of skill performed by legerdemain; a conjurer's trick, esp. one claiming to be done by magic or occult influence…
    strategy1672
    
    A devious or dishonest scheme, trick, or ploy. Cf. stratagem, n. 2a. Obsolete.
    jilt1683
    
    ? A deception: cf. jilt, v. 2. Obsolete.
    disingenuity1691–
    
    A piece of unfair treatment or underhand dealing.
    fun1699–
    
    An act of fraud or deception; a trick played on a person; a joke. Scottish (Orkney and Shetland) in later use.
    jugglementa1708–
    
    The process of juggling; a piece of juggling; a juggler's trick.
    spring1753
    
    figurative and in figurative contexts. A trick, an artifice. Obsolete. rare.
    slang1762–82
    
    cant. Deception, trickery; sham, pretence; a trick. Obsolete.
    shavie1767–
    
    A trick.
    rig?1775
    
    colloquial. A dishonest or fraudulent scheme or enterprise; a trick, a swindle. Also: something used to deceive or defraud a person.
    deception1794–
    
    That which deceives; a piece of trickery; a cheat, sham.
    Yorkshire bite1795
    
    Used allusively, esp. in reference to the †boorishness, cunning, sharpness, or trickery attributed to Yorkshire people. to come (or put) Yorkshire on…
    slum1802–57
    
    A scheme or device (typically for some dishonest purpose); a ruse, a ploy, a trick. Cf. rig, n.⁵ 1a, slum, v.¹ 1. Obsolete.
    fakement1811–
    
    A scheme or device (typically for some dishonest purpose), a ploy, a dodge, a trick; (sometimes more vaguely) a thing, an item.
    flim1825–
    
    = flam, n.¹ A.3.
    fake1829–
    
    In earliest use: an activity or action, typically one characterized by dishonesty or deception. Later (from the mid to late 19th century) usually…
    practical1833
    
    colloquial. A practical joke; a trick. Obsolete.
    deceptivity1843–
    
    = deceptiveness, n.; also concrete a thing of deceptive character.
    tread-behind1844
    
    A doubling; an evasion, artifice, shift.
    fly1861–
    
    slang. A trick, dodge.
    schlenter1864–
    
    colloquial (originally Australian and New Zealand, in later use also South African). A trick, a scam.
    Sinonism1864–
    
    racket1869–
    
    slang. U.S. A dishonest scheme or stratagem; a trick, a deception.
    have1885–
    
    colloquial (originally and chiefly Australian and New Zealand). An act of deception or trickery; a swindle, a hoax; a ruse. Cf. have, v. II.15c, ha…
    ficelle1890–
    
    A trick, artifice, (stage) device.
    wheeze1903–
    
    Originally Theatre slang, A joke or comic gag introduced into the performance of a piece by a clown or comedian, esp. a comic phrase or saying…
    fast one1912–
    
    to pull a fast one, to put over a fast one, and variants: (slang, originally U.S.) to take advantage of someone by trickery; to deceive. Hence fas…
    roughie1914–
    
    Australian. A joke; a trick, deception; (also) an unfair practice. Esp. in to put a roughie over.
    spun-yarn trick1916–
    
    Nautical. Line composed of two or more rope-yarns not laid but simply twisted together by a winch or by hand. Also in combinations, as spun-yarn major…
    fastie1931–
    
    An act of deception; a trick. Esp. in to pull a fastie: to trick or attempt to trick a person by doing something ingenious; to deceive someone (cf. to…
    phoney baloney1933–
    
    Nonsense, humbug; something fraudulent or fake. Also as int.
    dipsy-do1937–
    
    Something intended to cheat or deceive; an underhand or cunning act; a trick, a ruse. Also as a mass noun: trickery, deception. Cf. dipsy, n.², dipsy-…
    dipsy1942–
    
    Something intended to cheat or deceive; an underhand or cunning act; a trick, a ruse. Cf. dipsy-doodle, n. A.5, dipsy-do, n. B.4. Now rare.
    dipsy-doodle1942–
    
    Something intended to cheat or deceive; an underhand or cunning act; a trick, a ruse. Also as a mass noun: trickery, deception. Cf. dipsy, n.², dip…
    fake-out1955–
    
    An act of faking someone out (in various senses of to fake out at fake, v.² phrasal verbs); a deception or deliberate misrepresentation; a bluff…
    okey-doke1964–
    
    A deception; a confidence trick or swindle.
    mind-fuck1971–
    
    coarse slang. A disturbing or revelatory experience, esp. one which is drug-induced or is caused by deliberate psychological manipulation. Also: deception.
    View in Historical Thesaurus
    the mind operation of the mind knowledge conformity with what is known, truth disregard for truth, falsehood false assertion [nouns] faked report
    fake1829–
    
    In earliest use: an activity or action, typically one characterized by dishonesty or deception. Later (from the mid to late 19th century) usually…
    View in Historical Thesaurus
  2. 1.b.
    1893–
    
    Sport (originally and chiefly U.S.). An act of faking or feinting to deceive one's opponent; a feint. Cf. fake v.2 8.
    1893
    The tackle wedge in which Upton made his long run in the Yale-Harvard game was a ‘fake’. Instead of sending a half-back into the little wedge the ball was given to Upton, the tackle on the other wing.
    Outing March 112/2
    1924
    As the ball was passed he faked a play to Wood... The brilliant fake worked to perfection.
    Washington Post 19 October (Sports section) 2/5
    1952
    It is not practical to use many fakes..on your opponent unless you are close enough to him to make him respond.
    F. Anderson, Basketball Techniques Illustr. viii. 53
    1976
    Whenever possible, you and your team should use fakes.
    C. Brackenridge, Women's Lacrosse i. 12
    2018
    Pitchers backed off the rubber 10 times, batters stepped out eight times. There were three fakes to second base.
    Sunday Telegram (Worcester, Massachusetts) (Nexis) 4 February
    American football U.S. English colloquial and slang
    society leisure sport types of sport or game ball game football American football [nouns] actions or manoeuvres
    rush1857–
    
    American Football and (occasionally) Rugby. An act by a defensive player of rushing the quarterback or a kicker. Cf. pass rush, n.
    fair catch1861–
    
    (a) (In Rugby Union and Australian Rules football) a catch of a ball kicked by an opposing player leading to a mark (mark, n.¹ VII.32); (b) American F…
    punt-out1861–
    
    A long kick upfield.
    goal-kicking1871–
    
    spec. Rugby and (occasionally) American Football. The action of taking a goal kick (goal kick, n. 1a); the art of being a goalkicker.
    safety1879–
    
    Sport. An action intended to make one's position safer. American Football. An act of carrying the ball into one's own end zone; a score of two…
    safety touchdown1879–
    
    = safety touch, n.
    scrimmage1880–
    
    American Football and Canadian Football. A sequence of play in which opposing players take up position on either side of an imaginary line…
    rushing1882–
    
    American Football and Rugby. In defensive play: the action of running towards and attempting to tackle or hinder the opposing team's quarterback or…
    blocking1883–
    
    American Football. The action of obstructing an opponent, esp. a defensive player, by interposing one's body, as a legal move. Cf. block, v.¹ I.4.
    forward pass1884–
    
    A pass or throw in the direction of an opposing team's goal; spec. (a) American Football a pass in the direction of the opposing goal line…
    safety touch1884–
    
    = safety, n. II.6b.
    touchback1884–
    
    The action or fact of a team being awarded possession of the ball at a specific point on the field (now usually its own 20-yard line) resulting…
    passback1887–
    
    American Football. A backward pass from the centre to put the ball in play; = snap-back, n. 1b.
    run1890–
    
    Sport. American Football. = running play, n.
    signal1891–
    
    American Football. A coded verbal instruction given by a player, typically the quarterback, to other team members which specifies the next play or…
    fake1893–
    
    Sport (originally and chiefly U.S.). An act of faking or feinting to deceive one's opponent; a feint. Cf. fake, v.² 8.
    running play1894–
    
    A play in which an offensive player attempts to advance the ball by running with it after a handoff or a lateral; cf. pass play, n.
    straight-arm1894–
    
    American Football. A push or blow delivered by the ball carrier to fend off a potential tackler, using the arm held out straight from the body; the…
    onside kick1895–
    
    A short kick-off in which the ball is sent only slightly further than the legally required distance of 10 yards.
    straight-arming1895–
    
    American Football. The action of fending off a potential tackler using one's arm held out straight from one's body. Also figurative and in…
    tandem-play1895–
    
    See quot.
    pass play1896–
    
    A play in which the ball is passed between members of the same team; cf. running play, n.
    spiral1896–
    
    American Football. A kick or pass in which the ball in flight spins round its long axis.
    shift1901–
    
    American Football and Canadian Football. A sudden change from one offensive formation to another, achieved by one or more players changing their…
    end run1902–
    
    (a) In American football, an attempt by the ball-carrier to run round his or her own end (end, n. I.3g) and towards the goal; (b) figurative an…
    quarterback sneak1904–
    
    A play in which a quarterback carries the ball instead of handing or passing it to another player, esp. a short fast run through the offensive line.
    runback1905–
    
    American Football. A run made to advance a ball received after a change of possession, esp. a ball caught after a kick-off or punt.
    roughing1906–
    
    Sport. American Football, Ice Hockey, and Lacrosse. Any of various instances of violent behaviour, resulting in a penalty; foul tackling, punching…
    Minnesota shift1910–
    
    An attacking manoeuvre used in college football, originally developed by the University of Minnesota team (see quot. 1971).
    quarterbacking1910–
    
    American Football. The action of playing or directing as quarterback. Frequently attributive.
    snap-back1910–
    
    American Football and Canadian Football. A backward pass from the centre which puts the ball in play to begin a scrimmage.
    pickoff1912–
    
    American Football. An interception.
    block1914–
    
    American Football and Canadian Football. An act of obstructing an opponent from reaching or tackling the ball carrier by interposing one's body…
    punt return1914–
    
    An act of fielding and running a football punted by the opposite team.
    screen forward pass1915–
    
    A short forward pass to a receiver at or behind the line of scrimmage who is shielded by a screen of blockers; now superseded by screen pass, n.
    screen pass1920–
    
    A short pass to a receiver at or behind the line of scrimmage who is shielded by a screen of blockers; cf. screen forward pass, n.
    pass defence1921–
    
    Defensive play aimed at preventing a pass being successfully completed by the offence.
    power play1921–
    
    Sport. A concentration of players at a particular point; (American Football) a play in which the ball carrier is preceded by other players acting…
    sneak1921–
    
    American Football. = quarterback sneak, n.
    snap1922–
    
    American Football and Canadian Football. = snap-back, n. 1b.
    defence1923–
    
    Sport. The action or an act of seeking to prevent the opposition from scoring points, goals, etc., or otherwise gaining an advantage; a strategy or…
    reverse1924–
    
    American Football. A trick play in which a running player receives a handoff from the quarterback, runs behind the line of scrimmage, and hands the…
    carry1927–
    
    American Football. An act of running or rushing with the ball. Later also Rugby: an act of running hard with the ball into the opposition…
    lateral1927–
    
    American Football. = lateral pass, n. Cf. lateral, v.
    stiff-arm1927–
    
    (transitive) (occasionallyabsol.) to fend off or push with a stiff arm; hence figurative, to rebuff or reject; also as n. usually attributive) in…
    zone1927–
    
    American Football and Basketball. A specific area of the court to be defended by a particular player; also, a mode of defensive play employing this…
    zone defence1927–
    
    A system of defensive play whereby each player guards an allotted portion of the field of play.
    submarine charge1928–
    
    A charge in which a defensive lineman ducks below the block of an offensive lineman; cf. submarine, v. 4, submarine tackle, n.
    squib1929–
    
    North American Sport (esp. American Football and Baseball). A hit, kick, or throw which travels only a short distance, esp. as a result of being…
    pass rushing1933–
    
    Defensive play aimed at preventing the opposing quarterback from passing by engaging in a pass rush. Cf. pass rush, n.
    safetying1933–
    
    American Football. The action of playing in the position of safety. Cf. safety, n. II.11. rare.
    trap play1933–
    
    A tactical manoeuvre in which a defensive player is allowed by the attacking team to cross the line of scrimmage and then blocked, thus creating a…
    end-around1934–
    
    (a) American Football an offensive running play in which an end (end, n. I.3g) carries the ball behind his or her own team's line and round the…
    trap1935–
    
    American Football. = trap play, n.
    mousetrap1936–
    
    Extended uses. American Football. A play in which a defensive lineman is allowed to cross the line of scrimmage before being blocked, thus creating…
    buttonhook1938–
    
    American Football. A passing play in which a receiver runs straight downfield and then doubles back sharply towards the line of scrimmage to…
    blitzing1940–
    
    hand-off1940–
    
    American Football. An offensive manoeuvre in which a player, esp. the quarterback, hands the ball to a teammate; a play on which this occurs; a…
    pitchout1946–
    
    American Football. A (usually short) lateral pass behind the line of scrimmage, esp. from a quarterback to a running back.
    slant1947–
    
    American Football. (a) An attacking play in which the ball-carrier moves into the line of scrimmage at an oblique angle. (b) In full, slant-in…
    strike1947–
    
    In certain games. American Football. A forward pass, straight into the hands of the receiver.
    draw play1948–
    
    A running play in which the quarterback initially drops back as if to throw a pass, so as to draw the defensive linemen forward and out of position…
    shovel pass1948–
    
    An underarm, forward pass made with a shovelling movement of the arms; so as v. transitive and intransitive.
    bootleg1949–
    
    American Football. A play in which the ball-carrier pretends to hand the ball to a team-mate but continues to carry it, concealing it from opposing…
    option1950–
    
    American Football. A play in which the halfback, fullback, or receiver, having received the ball from the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage…
    red dog1950–
    
    American Football. A play in which the linebackers or defensive backs rush the quarterback; = blitz, n. c.
    red-dogging1951–
    
    The action of rushing the quarterback.
    rollout1951–
    
    American Football. A manoeuvre in which a quarterback moves quickly toward the sideline before attempting to pass or run the football; rollout pass…
    submarine1952–
    
    U.S. colloquial. American Football. A submarine charge or tackle (see compounds C.2c); (also) a player attempting this. rare.
    turnover1953–
    
    Sport (originally U.S.). A loss of possession of the ball to the opposing team.
    clothesline1954–
    
    Chiefly U.S. Sport. A blow across the neck (or sometimes head) with an outstretched arm; a move in which a person is knocked down with such a blow…
    sleeper pass1954–
    
    A pass unexpectedly involving a player hitherto ignored.
    draw1956–
    
    American Football and Canadian Football. A running play in which the quarterback initially drops back as if to throw a pass, then hands the ball off…
    sprint-out1958–
    
    A play in which the quarterback sprints towards the sideline before attempting to pass or run the ball; cf. rollout, n. B.2.
    gadget play1959–
    
    An unusual and often elaborate offensive play, in which misdirection and unorthodox tactics are used to deceive the opposing team; a trick play.
    bomb1960–
    
    American Football. A long, looping, forward pass.
    swing pass1960–
    
    A short pass to a back running to the outside.
    pass rush1962–
    
    An attempt by the defensive team to prevent the opposing quarterback from passing by harrying or tackling; play featuring such attempts.
    blitz1963–
    
    American Football. A charge by one or more defensive backs into the offensive backfield, esp. to prevent or disrupt a passing play.
    spearing1964–
    
    North American. American Football. The illegal action of ramming or butting a member of an opposing team with the helmet.
    onsides kick1965–
    
    = onside kick n. at onside, adj.¹
    takeaway1967–
    
    American Football and Ice Hockey. An instance of regaining possession of the ball or puck from the opposing team during play.
    quarterback sack1968–
    
    = sack, n.¹ I.1j.
    smash-mouth1968–
    
    American Football. A forcefully aggressive or confrontational style of play, spec. a style of attack that relies on running the ball rather than on…
    veer1968–
    
    American Football. An offensive play which makes use of a modified T-formation with a split backfield, allowing the quarterback the ‘triple…
    bump-and-run1970–
    
    American Football. A defensive technique in which a defender attempts to hit a receiver near the line of scrimmage, then runs with the receiver to…
    scramble1971–
    
    American Football. An impromptu movement by a quarterback to evade tacklers. Cf. sense 1d of the verb.
    sack1972–
    
    In American football, an act or occasion of tackling a quarter-back behind the scrimmage line before he or she can make a pass.
    nose tackle1975–
    
    = middle guard, n.; cf. nose guard, n.
    nickel1979–
    
    American Football. = nickel defence, n.
    pressure1981–
    
    American Football. Esp. as a statistical measure: an instance of a defensive player forcing the quarterback to make a play when not ready to do so.
    pick1984–
    
    American Football. An interception. Cf. to pick off 4 at pick, v.¹ phrasal verbs 4.
    pick-six2001–
    
    An interception that leads to a touchdown scored by the intercepting team on the same play.
    View in Historical Thesaurus
2. 1. 2.a.
    1855–
    
    A person who engages in deception; a fraud, a charlatan; a trickster; an impostor.
    In early use also occasionally simply: a criminal (see e.g. quots. 1855, 1885).
    1855
    The next person who addressed the meeting was described as an ‘Old fake’. He had been, he said, ‘a thief from his earliest childhood’.
    Christian Times 11 April 237/3
    1882
    It is said that the score or so of other mutual ‘fakes’ will put up what they have taken from widows and dupes to put the ‘Pawnee’ on its legs again.
    Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas) 27 September
    1885
    They are always taken in hand by the old ‘faikes’ (old experienced criminals), trained in all the ways of theft, and fixed for life in a circle of reproductive crime.
    M. Davitt, Leaves from Prison Diary xii. 83
    1888
    The Roman that you ask of, merely is a Grand Old Fake. He has never seen a toga, he has never seen a shield.
    Weekly Nebraska State Journal (Lincoln, Nebraska) 13 July 5/3
    1927
    This Swami is a heathen fake, who has come into this community here and bamboozled most of the women and some of the men into thinking he is a real priest.
    C. Wells, Where's Emily? xiv. 237
    1991
    One [woman], an astronomer—actually, she's a fake; she's really only the secretary in the astronomy department—starts trying to tell him about physics.
    Washington Post 11 June b3/2
    2015
    When Morton considers the mediums of the late 19th and early 20th centuries..she emphasizes that nearly all of them were ultimately proved to be fakes and charlatans.
    Washington Post (Nexis) 17 December c4
    colloquial and slang
    the mind operation of the mind knowledge conformity with what is known, truth deceit, deception, trickery dissimulation, pretence [nouns] one who or that which dissembles
    feigner1382–
    
    One who or that which feigns, in various senses of the verb; †a fashioner, constructor, inventor; the contriver of a fiction (obsolete); a simulator…
    pseudo1402–1500
    
    A person claiming divine authority for false or heretical pronouncements; a false apostle or teacher; a hypocrite or pretender. Obsolete.
    idola1512–
    
    A person who has assumed an invented or counterfeit persona; an impostor, a pretender. Now literary.
    simular1526–
    
    One who, or that which, simulates, or puts on a false appearance (of something).
    simuler1534
    
    A simulator, feigner.
    colourer1554–1687
    
    A person who disguises or conceals the truth; a misrepresenter of facts or intentions; a dissembler. Cf. colour, v. II.6. Obsolete.
    counterfeiter1561–
    
    One who imitates (a person or an action) with intent to deceive; a pretender, dissembler.
    truphane1568
    
    A deceiver, an impostor.
    counterfeit1574–1768
    
    One who imitates another for whom he or she passes himself or herself off; a pretender, an impostor. Obsolete.
    put-forth1581–90
    
    Apparently: an impostor, a pretender (or perhaps: a braggart). In quot. 1581 perhaps: an imposture, a pretence.
    pretender1583–
    
    A person who makes a profession or assertion, esp. falsely or hypocritically; a person who lays claim to an ability, quality, skill, etc., esp…
    impostor1586–
    
    One who imposes on others; a deceiver, swindler, cheat; now chiefly, one who assumes a false character, or passes himself or herself off as someone…
    would-be1607–1811
    
    A person aspiring or wishing to be something specified or implied. As a mock surname in literary sources. Cf. sense A.1a.i. Obsolete.
    phantasm1622–41
    
    A person who is not what he or she appears or claims to be; an impostor. Obsolete.
    farce1696–
    
    Something as ridiculous as a theatrical farce; a proceeding that is ludicrously futile or insincere; a hollow pretence, a mockery.
    imposture1699–
    
    A thing (or person) which is pretended to be what it is not.
    Barmecide1713–
    
    One who offers imaginary food or illusory benefits. Often attributive.
    simulator1835–
    
    One who practises simulation.
    fraud1850–
    
    colloquial of a person: One who is not what he or she appears to be; an impostor, a humbug; spec. U.S. (see quot. 1895).
    sham1850–
    
    Applied to a person. Cf. A.1d.
    fake1855–
    
    A person who engages in deception; a fraud, a charlatan; a trickster; an impostor.
    swindle1858–
    
    colloquial. Something which is not as good, impressive, valuable, etc., as it is claimed or represented to be; something which does not live up to…
    shammer1861–
    
    One who shams. One who shams illness, death, etc.
    make-believe1863–66
    
    A person who makes believe or pretends; a make-believer. Obsolete. rare.
    hoax1869–
    
    concrete. One who is a deception, ‘a fraud’.
    economizer1874–
    
    A person who practises ‘economy’ or judicious selection with regard to the presentation (Theology) of doctrine or (more generally) the truth. Cf. to…
    make-believer1884–
    
    A person who makes believe or pretends.
    ringer1896–
    
    U.S. An outsider or intruder; a phoney person or thing; an impostor; spec. (now historical) a person who attaches himself or herself to a political…
    phoney1902–
    
    A fake or counterfeit thing; a false or insincere person.
    faker1910–
    
    An insincere, pretentious, or affected person; a hypocrite, a phoney.
    shill1976–
    
    transferred. One who poses as a disinterested advocate of another but is actually of the latter's party; a mouthpiece, a stooge.
    fugazi1987–
    
    A false, inauthentic, or hypocritical person. Also: an impostor.
    View in Historical Thesaurus
  2. 2.b.
    1880–84
    
    † U.S. A mediocre or incompetent actor; a ham. Obsolete or merged in senses A.2a, A.2c.
    1880
    She used to walk the curbstone up in Amity street, and..the old fake got struck on her.
    National Police Gazette (U.S.) 8 May 14/3
    1884
    The old hen's dizzy girls, scene-chewing fakes and tart comedians of the day.
    National Police Gazette (U.S.) 11 October 3/1 (heading)
    theatre U.S. English colloquial and slang
    society leisure the arts performance arts drama actor [nouns] actor by manner of performance
    tear-mouth1616–1819
    
    An epithet applied to a ranting actor.
    tear-throat1620–54
    
    (a) adj. That ‘tears’ or irritates the throat; (b) n. a ranting actor.
    spouter1750–
    
    A reciter or amateur actor. Now somewhat rare.
    stick1801–
    
    A dull or awkward person, one who lacks geniality or liveliness. Also: a person who is unskilled or inept at something; (Theatre) an unconvincing…
    gagger1871–
    
    One who gags, in senses of the verb.
    facialist1877–95
    
    U.S. An actor, impersonator, etc., whose performance is noted for the employment of (exaggerated or humorous) facial expressions. Obsolete.
    fake1880–84
    
    U.S. A mediocre or incompetent actor; a ham. Obsolete or merged in senses A.2a, A.2c.
    hamfatter1880–
    
    An ineffective actor or performer; (also hamfat) a mediocre jazz musician; so hamfat man, etc.
    ham1882–
    
    An inexpert performer; (also ham actor, ham actress) an ineffective or over-emphatic actor, one who rants or overacts. slang (originally U.S.).
    mugger1892–
    
    Theatre slang. A comedian who makes faces or grimaces. rare.
    hambone1893–
    
    U.S. slang (depreciative). An inexpert or over-theatrical actor, (in early use) esp. one who performs in minstrel shows or vaudeville and speaks in…
    upstager1933–
    
    rhubarber1953–
    
    slang (originally Theatre). Originally: an actor who repeats the word ‘rhubarb’ so as to represent an indistinct conversation or the noise of a…
    method actor1955–
    
    An actor who follows the principles or style of method acting.
    View in Historical Thesaurus
  3. 2.c.
    1927–
    
    A person who behaves in a manner contrary to his or her true feelings or nature; an insincere, pretentious, or affected person; a hypocrite, a poseur, a phoney.
    1927
    If you stood at this moment to be judged by these..people, you would have earned from them that which I can only ever feel for you—everlasting contempt…you Fake!
    F. Lonsdale, The Fake iii. ii. 59
    1934
    I hate fakes and phonies and members of the ultra-intelligentsia who represent depravity as their art in order to flaunt and justify unnatural behavior.
    New York Amsterdam News 19 March 9/1
    1950
    A so-called man-of-honour with no scruples whatsoever, a complete fake.
    Times of India 24 March 8/1
    2013
    Every time she'd smiled, she had felt like such a fake.
    C. J. Carmichael, Big Sky Christmas vi. 83
    colloquial and slang
3. 1. 3.a.
    1877
    
    † A soft-soldering fluid used to make or repair jewellery. Obsolete. rare.
    1877
    This fluid [sc. soft-soldering fluid]..bears various names in the different workshops, such as ‘monkey’, ‘fake’, &c.
    G. E. Gee, Practical Gold-worker x. 140
    jewellery colloquial and slang
    society occupation and work materials types of material generally [nouns] imitating something else
    fake1877
    
    A soft-soldering fluid used to make or repair jewellery. Obsolete. rare.
    View in Historical Thesaurus
    society occupation and work materials derived or manufactured material materials used in metallurgical processes [nouns] other metallurgical materials
    fixes1594–1819
    
    With plural agreement. (See quot.)
    spalt1668–1728
    
    (See quots.)
    slacken1670–
    
    Slag.
    thickening1872–
    
    Foundry = thickness, n. II.8.
    cementa1877–
    
    (See quots.) Cf. cement-gold, n.
    fake1877
    
    A soft-soldering fluid used to make or repair jewellery. Obsolete. rare.
    salt bath1913–
    
    A bath of a molten salt or salts, as used in annealing.
    inoculant1931–
    
    Metallurgy. A substance added to molten metal or a molten alloy in order to produce a smaller grain size or otherwise improve the microstructure…
    View in Historical Thesaurus
    the mind operation of the mind knowledge conformity with what is known, truth deceit, deception, trickery forgery, falsification [nouns] something false or forged material used in
    smouch1785
    
    (See quot. 1785.)
    fake1877
    
    A soft-soldering fluid used to make or repair jewellery. Obsolete. rare.
    tinned air1913–
    
    Air supplied by an artificial ventilation system; also (chiefly jocular) air sealed in a tin for sale.
    View in Historical Thesaurus
  2. 3.b.
    1877–87
    
    † slang. Milk made from condensed milk and water, and sold as normal milk. Obsolete.
    1877
    Prisoner: Oh yes; 64 quarts of water to four quarts of [condensed] milk; that is what we call the ‘fake’.
    Daily News 6 December 2/6
    1887
    Swiss and German manufacturers are circularising London with respect to what is known as ‘unsweetened condensed [milk]’, from which is compounded a certain decoction termed ‘fake’.
    Daily Telegraph 14 July 3/1
    colloquial and slang
  3. 3.c.
    1892–
    
    A mixture of waxes or similar substances used to impart a finish to shoes or other leather items. Now rare.
    1892
    You will not be able to buy fake, as it is not sold ready for use, but it is made in the following way: Take two hard heelballs [etc.].
    Work 14 May 141/1
    1922
    Equal parts of white wax and bees wax mixed with turpentine makes an excellent fake for brown bottoms or fiddle waists.
    Harness Herald October 24/2
    1934
    Beeswax..is the best known of all the waxes..: its price is high, but large quantities are still used in producing the best grade of fakes.
    W. D. John, Modern Shoe Dressings vi. 86
    1991
    Fakes, water emulsified waxes to produce oil-in-water dispersions which may be of a thin creamy nature or in the form of thick paste.
    Glossary Terms relating to Footwear (U.S. Bureau of Indian Standards) 11/2
    colloquial and slang
4. 4.
  1879–84
  
  † slang. With modifying word. A business, a matter. Cf. do n.1 1c. Obsolete.
  1879
  It air a rum fake, an' no bloomin' erra.
  Judy 2 April 148/2
  1884
  [He] whistled, pitched some pebbles in the mud, and finally breaking out into a laugh, said: ‘Guv'nor, queer fake, ain't it?’
  Moonshine 20 September 149/1
  colloquial and slang
5. 5.
  1882–
  
  An object intended for use in a particular manner indicated by the context; a contraption, a gadget; (in later use chiefly) an item used by a conjuror to perform a particular trick or tricks; = feke n. Cf. fakement n. 1.
  Originally apparently without specific implication of dishonesty or deception, but in later use not always easily distinguished from sense A.6.
  1882
  The corps-de-ballet its way betakes, And each member carries across the water That mysterious hand-bag which holds her ‘fakes’.
  Sporting Times 19 August 5/3
  1886
  Have a waxwork by all means. But how can you get up a show without dresses, wigs, properties and fakes?
  Dart & Midland Figaro 20 June 10/1
  1889
  Fake,..in conjuring, any mechanical contrivance for the performance of a trick.
  A. Barrère & C. G. Leland, Dictionary of Slang vol. I. 351/2
  1899
  ‘D'you mind puttin' one of these in the fake?’ said young Alf. The coin was put through the tester and came out intact.
  C. Rook, Hooligan Nights 61
  1909
  This surprising effect is accomplished by the use of two mechanical stands, two little ‘fakes’, two bottomless tumblers, and four unprepared silk handkerchiefs, two of' each color.
  D. Holmes, Some Modern Conjuring 35
  1931
  The magician was then grasping some useful fake in his hands... Sometimes it was only a piece of wire, yet of great use to him when the doctors had retired and he was left alone to work out his own escape.
  J. C. Cannell, Secrets of Houdini v. 141
  1995
  You will require a special fake for this trick, but it is easily made by drilling a small hole near the edge of a coin.
  H. Baron, Magic for Beginners 2 vi. 64
  conjuring colloquial and slang
  society leisure the arts performance arts legerdemain, etc. [nouns] juggler or conjurer other accessories
  bumleaf1584
  
  A leaf of a book with a notch cut in the edge enabling a conjuror to open the book at a particular place while giving the appearance that it was…
  long card1774–
  
  Conjuring. A card (typically a playing card) which is slightly longer or wider than the others in the deck or pack, and used to facilitate…
  servante1872–
  
  A concealed shelf or (occasionally) additional table used to facilitate the performance of conjuring tricks.
  fake1882–
  
  An object intended for use in a particular manner indicated by the context; a contraption, a gadget; (in later use chiefly) an item used by a…
  feke1901–
  
  An object or device used by a conjuror to perform a particular trick or tricks. Cf. fake, n.² A.5.
  View in Historical Thesaurus
6. 6.
  1883–
  
  Originally U.S. Something which has been faked; esp. something which has been counterfeited or forged, or which has been fraudulently modified in order to give it the appearance of something else; a forgery.
  1883
  I gave Patterson an order to make me a lot of zebras out of mules [for a sideshow]... He turned them out so well, you would never dream that they were fakes.
  Index (Boston) 26 April 508/3
  1890
  Benjamin & Sarpy, Dealers in all kinds of Fac-similes, Faked Surcharges, and Fiscal Postals... Fakes of all descriptions supplied on the shortest notice.
  Stamp News 1 November 296/1
  1893
  There are many electrical appliances and belts that are fakes, from which no current can be obtained.
  Electricity 9 August 38/3
  1903
  To prove..that several ‘old masters’..are also ‘fakes’, and were ‘pot-boiled’ in Montmartre.
  Westminster Gazette 19 March 4/3
  1973
  Man..was not put together from the cranium of one primate and the jaw of another—that misconception..only makes a fake like the Piltdown skull.
  Listener 10 May 605/3
  2000
  The growing concern about Van Gogh fakes has spawned a cottage industry of authenticators.
  Cape Times 19 July i. 4/7
  2018
  Elsie's father, a keen amateur photographer who developed the prints, never doubted they were fakes.
  Bradford Tel. & Argus (Nexis) 28 September
  U.S. English colloquial and slang
  the mind operation of the mind knowledge conformity with what is known, truth deceit, deception, trickery forgery, falsification [nouns] something false or forged
  falsehood1340–
  
  Deception, falsification, imposture; a forgery, counterfeit. Obsolete or archaic.
  counterfeiture1548
  
  Quasi-concrete. An imitation, counterfeit.
  forgery1574–
  
  concrete. Something forged, counterfeited, or fabricated; a spurious production.
  bastard1581–
  
  figurative and in figurative contexts.
  counterfeit1613–
  
  A false or spurious imitation. A writing, etc. that is not genuine; a forgery.
  imitationa1616–
  
  The result or product of imitating; a copy, an artificial likeness; a thing made to look like something else, which it is not; a counterfeit.
  mock1646–
  
  The action of imitating a person or thing; (concrete) something which deceptively resembles something else; an imitation, counterfeit, sham; a…
  pasteboard1648–
  
  figurative and in figurative contexts. Flimsy or unsubstantial things; a thing of a flimsy or unsubstantial nature. Cf. sense B.2.
  sophistication1664–
  
  Deceptive modification.
  imposture1699–
  
  A thing (or person) which is pretended to be what it is not.
  fraud1725
  
  A method or means of defrauding or deceiving; a fraudulent contrivance; in modern colloquial use, a spurious or deceptive thing.
  sham1728–
  
  Something that is intended to be mistaken for something else, or that is not really what it purports to be; a spurious imitation, a counterfeit.
  adulteration1756
  
  The result of this; an adulterated condition or product. Also: an adulterating substance.
  falsity1780–
  
  Something that is false. A counterfeit, sham. rare.
  duff1781–
  
  Something worthless or fake; counterfeit money; smuggled goods. Cf. duffer, n.¹ 1, dud, n.¹ 5.
  shim-sham1797–
  
  = sham, n.¹ & adj.
  shammy1822–
  
  A spurious imitation.
  Hodge-razor1843–
  
  A razor made to sell to Hodge: see Peter Pindar's Wks. (1794) I. 151; hence, in Carlyle, anything made to sell; a sham.
  pinchbeck1847–
  
  figurative. A thing that is false, counterfeit, cheap, or worthless; spec. something that appears valuable but is actually cheap or tawdry. Also…
  shice1859–
  
  Nothing; base money; something worthless.
  cook-up1865–
  
  Something that has been copied from older material or other sources; a rehash. Now also: something that has been created by combining disparate…
  postiche1876–
  
  An imitation; feigning, pretence. rare.
  fakery1880–
  
  The practice of faking something; deception, trickery, fraud.
  fake1883–
  
  Originally U.S. Something which has been faked; esp. something which has been counterfeited or forged, or which has been fraudulently modified in…
  bogosity1893–
  
  The quality or fact of being bogus; spuriousness, falseness. Occasionally also: a thing that is bogus or sham.
  spuriosity1894–
  
  The state or condition of being spurious; a spurious thing or production. Also in combinations.
  dud1897–
  
  A counterfeit, a forgery; (also) a dishonoured cheque.
  cluck1904–
  
  U.S. slang. A thing of poor quality; something worthless, a ‘dud’; a counterfeit or fake. Now rare.
  rake-up1957–
  
  Something made up; a fabrication.
  bodgie1988–
  
  A ‘bodgie’ thing; something shoddy, unreliable, or of dubious origin.
  fugazi1988–
  
  A counterfeit item; a forgery. Hence more generally: anything that is not genuine; a pretence, a sham.
  View in Historical Thesaurus
adjective
1. 1.
  1879–
  
  Counterfeit, imitation, falsified, simulated, spurious; not genuine; bogus, phoney. Of a person: claiming to be, or masquerading or posing as, something that one is not. Also: intended to deceive; relating to or associated with the act of faking something.
  1879
  Blatant vice in corduroy and fustian, in cotton-backed velvet and fake-sealskin, drinks gin at the same bar with more blatant virtue in broad-cloth and square-toed highlows.
  Sporting Times 11 January 2/1
  1884
  He is remonstrated with by a ‘trick’ usher and expelled by a ‘fake’ policeman.
  New York Times 16 December 4/6
  1886
  The sporting kids and students..no longer take any stock in ‘fake’ fights.
  Times (Philadelphia) 8 August 12/5
  1892
  Lake gains 80 yards on a fake kick.
  Boston Daily Globe 19 November 1/6
  1901
  If the publishers can sell the book for 60 cents one month, what reason can they offer for charging 90 cents for the same book a few weeks later? I consider it a ‘fake’ method of doing business.
  Publishers' Weekly 30 March 898/1
  1920
  Fake whisky..the symptoms following consumption are similar to those of gastric poisoning.
  Glasgow Herald 17 November 9
  1976
  They do not learn to discover whether the authors are authentic or fake.
  E. Fromm, To have or to Be? (1979) i. ii. 44
  1984
  I learnt to smile from my mother. A fake sweetness in my case.
  E. Feinstein, Border (1985) ii. 21
  2000
  Dendrochronology can be used to detect fake or misattributed works of art.
  Dendrochronology (English Heritage) 17/1
  2018
  [He] is a citizen of China and entered the U.S. in the late 1990s using a fake passport.
  St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch (Nexis) 25 September a3
  colloquial and slang
  the mind operation of the mind knowledge conformity with what is known, truth deceit, deception, trickery forgery, falsification [adjectives]
  counterfeitedc1385–
  
  Imitated, simulated, feigned, pretended, etc.: see the verb.
  counterfeitc1386–1631
  
  Made in imitation of that which is genuine; imitated, forged: see the verb. Obsolete.
  trothlessa1393–1907
  
  Untruthful, false, mendacious. Obsolete.
  bastard1397–
  
  Designating something which is not in its pure, genuine, or original form; hybrid, adulterated, debased.
  forged1484–
  
  Made in fraudulent imitation of something genuine; counterfeit, false, spurious.
  apocryphate1486–1655
  
  Of apocryphal origin; of spurious creation or character.
  adulterate?a1509–
  
  Debased or made impure by intermixture or admixture; = adulterated, adj. 2.
  mockisha1513–1631
  
  Mocking, derisive. Also: mock, sham.
  sophisticate1531–1678
  
  = sophisticated, adj. 3. Obsolete.
  adulterine1542–1865
  
  That results from adulteration or admixture; counterfeit, impure, debased. Obsolete.
  adulterous1547–
  
  Relating to or characterized by adulteration; that adulterates; admixed, corrupted; debased by contamination. Now rare.
  mock1548–
  
  Preceding a noun: designating a person who or thing which parodies, imitates, or deceptively resembles… Of a person. Frequently derogatory.
  forbate1558
  
  ? Counterfeit, imitation.
  coined1582–
  
  figurative. Fabricated, deliberately invented, made up; see the verb.
  firking1594–
  
  feigned1598–
  
  Military. = false, adj. A.III.14.
  adulterated1610–
  
  That has been adulterated (adulterate, v. 1); made poorer in quality or unusable for its original purpose by the addition of some other substance…
  apocryphal1612–
  
  gen. Unreal, counterfeit, sham, ‘imitation’.
  spurious1615–
  
  Superficially resembling or simulating, but lacking the genuine character or qualities of, something… Of material things.
  usurpeda1616
  
  False, counterfeit. Obsolete. rare.
  impostured1619–48
  
  Falsified, adulterated; impostrous.
  mock-madea1625–
  
  Prefixed to adjectives and adverbs, forming compounds with the sense ‘apparently, but not really’, ‘in a counterfeit manner’, ‘pretendingly’.
  suppository1641–1709
  
  Not genuine, false. Cf. supposititious, adj. 1b. Obsolete. rare.
  affictitious1656
  
  Counterfeit, faked.
  pasteboard1659–
  
  figurative. Unsubstantial; unreal, one-dimensional.
  sophisticated1673–
  
  Falsified in a greater or less degree; not plain, honest, or straightforward.
  flam1678–1702
  
  That is intended to deceive; counterfeit, fictitious, sham. Obsolete.
  Brummagem1679–
  
  Designating counterfeit coins manufactured in the English city of Birmingham; (hence) counterfeit, sham, not genuine. Later also: characteristic of…
  sham1681–
  
  Of immaterial things: Pretended, feigned, false, counterfeit; not genuine or true. sham fight n. a mimic battle between two divisions of a military…
  belieda1718–
  
  Falsified; proved false.
  fictitious1739
  
  Counterfeit, ‘imitation’, sham; not genuine.
  Birmingham1785–
  
  attributive. figurative and in extended use. depreciative. With the sense ‘fake, not genuine; cheap, showy, imitation’. Now rare.
  pinchbeck1790–
  
  figurative. False, counterfeit, substitute; cheap, tawdry.
  brummish1803–
  
  Not genuine; counterfeit. Cf. Brum, n.¹ A.1.
  Brum1805–83
  
  Esp. of a coin: fake, counterfeit; not genuine. Cf. Brummagem, adj. A.1. Obsolete.
  flash1812–
  
  Counterfeit, not genuine, sham.
  bogus1839–
  
  Counterfeit, spurious, fictitious, sham: ‘originally applied to counterfeit coin’ (Webster).
  dummy1839–
  
  Designating something designed to resemble and serve as a substitute for the real or usual one, but lacking an essential quality or function…
  imitative1839–
  
  That imitates the appearance of something else; simulative; fictitious; counterfeit.
  doctored1853–
  
  That has been doctored (in various senses of the verb); esp. that has been falsified, adulterated, or tampered with.
  postiche1854–90
  
  Counterfeit, artificial; spec. applied to an architectural or sculptural ornament (see quot. 1890). Obsolete. rare.
  pseudo1854–
  
  Chiefly colloquial and derogatory. False or spurious; pretended, fake; so-called. Also, in later use: intellectually or socially pretentious or…
  Brummagemish1855
  
  Characteristic of Birmingham.
  snide1859–
  
  Counterfeit, sham, bogus. Also (more widely): inferior, worthless.
  inauthentic1860–
  
  Not authentic.
  fake1879–
  
  Counterfeit, imitation, falsified, simulated, spurious; not genuine; bogus, phoney. Of a person: claiming to be, or masquerading or posing as…
  bum1884–
  
  Chiefly North American. Esp. of money or a cheque: counterfeit; fraudulent; fake.
  Brummie1886–
  
  Originally and chiefly Australian. Counterfeit; gaudy or cheaply made. Cf. Brummagem, adj. A.1.
  tin1886–
  
  figurative in reference to tin as a base metal, esp. in comparison with silver: Mean, petty, worthless, counterfeit. (Cf. copper, n.¹ compounds…
  filled1887–
  
  Made up by the addition of foreign materials; adulterated. Of cotton fabrics: Faced or sized with certain preparations serving to give the…
  duff1889–
  
  Originally of money: fake, counterfeit; not genuine.
  faked1890–
  
  Forged, counterfeit, falsified; simulated, feigned. Cf. fake, v.² 7.
  shicec1890–
  
  Worthless, counterfeit, spurious.
  margarine1891–
  
  Sham, bogus, counterfeit.
  dud1904–
  
  Unsatisfactory; disappointing; failing to live up to expectations or hopes.
  Potemkin village1904–
  
  Any of the sham villages said to have been built by Potemkin to give a false impression of prosperity in the Crimea, in advance of Catherine II's…
  mocked-up1919–
  
  Made as a mock-up or replica; contrived in imitation, simulated.
  phoney baloney1936–
  
  Insincere; fake. Also: foolish, stupid.
  four-flushing1942–
  
  bodgie1956–
  
  Australian and New Zealand. Not authentic; false, fake.
  moody1958–
  
  British Criminals' slang. False, counterfeit.
  disauthentic1960–
  
  Not true or genuine, and thus not worthy of acceptance or belief; inauthentic; (also) not true to life. Cf. authentic, adj. A.2a.
  fugazi1974–
  
  That has been forged or counterfeited. Hence more generally: not genuine; bogus, phoney, false.
  bodgied1988–
  
  Of dubious origins or credentials; not authentic, false, fake, counterfeit. Also bodgied-up.
  bodgied-up1988–
  
  Of dubious origins or credentials; not authentic, false, fake, counterfeit. Also bodgied-up.
  View in Historical Thesaurus
2. 2.
  1920–
  
  Music. Designating a fingering which differs from the standard fingering used to produce a particular note on a wind instrument, but produces approximately the same pitch.
  Such fingerings may be resorted to when the note is played at a point in a passage where the standard fingering is difficult to use; they may also be used deliberately when the slightly different note produced is wanted for a particular purpose, e.g. because of its distinctive timbre.
  1920
  To begin a difficult trill with ‘fake’ or trill fingering magnifies the discrepancy in pitch in one or both of the notes of the trill to such an extent that [etc.].
  Flutist June 142/2
  1958
  In some cases where no alternate fingering is possible, an auxiliary fingering may have to be used. These auxiliary fingerings are sometimes called ‘fake’ or ‘false’ fingerings.
  W. G. Spencer, Art of Bassoon Playing iv. 60/2
  2013
  Once in a while I encounter an oboist who relies frequently on fake fingerings.
  J. Leclair, Oboe Secrets v. 93
  music colloquial and slang
3. 3.
  1942–
  
  Of a person: given to simulating emotions, reactions, etc.; insincere, hypocritical, affected. Also of actions, behaviour, etc., considered characteristic of such a person. Usually in predicative use.
  1942
  I once heard a man on a Fifth Avenue bus telling a friend about a girl: ‘She's fake, she's pseudo, she's false. In fact I sometimes wonder if she's real.’
  Commonweal 18 December 235/2
  1967
  I saw these sweet little girls..being very forward, and being very fake and phony.
  Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Massachusetts) 10 May 31/4
  1990
  There was nothing fake or hypocritical in your rattling off the formulas of your childhood, but to do that now might seem very fake indeed.
  F. L. Gross, Searching for God iii. 20
  2013
  Can I please get you a drink? She was trying too hard, being fake.
  C. Tsiolkas, Barracuda (2014) 152
  colloquial and slang
  society morality moral badness lack of principle or integrity [adjectives] disingenuous or insincere
  unwholea1352
  
  Unsincere. rare.
  fair seemly1484–1599
  
  (a) Insincere, flattering; (b) of pleasant appearance, attractive.
  unsincere1577–
  
  = insincere, adj. 1. Of actions, etc.
  insincere1634–
  
  Not sincere or genuine; assuming a false guise in speech or conduct; dissembling, disingenuous. Said of persons and their actions or behaviour.
  uningenious1638–56
  
  = uningenuous, adj. Obsolete.
  uningenuous1638–70
  
  Not frank, candid, or open; disingenuous.
  disingenuous1648–
  
  The opposite of ingenuous; lacking in candour or frankness, insincere, morally fraudulent. (Said of persons and their actions.)
  disingenious1661–
  
  Frequently error in 17th cent. for disingenuous, adj., etc.
  uncandid1771–
  
  Not candid or open; disingenuous. Of persons.
  fake1942–
  
  Of a person: given to simulating emotions, reactions, etc.; insincere, hypocritical, affected. Also of actions, behaviour, etc., considered…
  performative1996–
  
  Usually depreciative. Of action, speech, behaviour, etc.: done or expressed for the sake of appearance, esp. to impress others or to improve…
  View in Historical Thesaurus

Pronunciation

British English

/feɪk/

fayk

U.S. English

/feɪk/

fayk

Frequency

fake typically occurs about three times per million words in modern written English.

fake is in frequency band 5, which contains words occurring between 1 and 10 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

Frequency of fake, n.² & adj., 1820–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade	Frequency per million words
1820	0.015
1830	0.015
1840	0.019
1850	0.022
1860	0.06
1870	0.091
1880	0.15
1890	0.25
1900	0.49
1910	0.79
1920	1.1
1930	1.4
1940	1.5
1950	1.5
1960	1.7
1970	2.0
1980	2.6
1990	3.5
2000	4.3
2010	4.8

Frequency of fake, n.² & adj., 2017–2023

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Modern frequency series are derived from a corpus of 20 billion words, covering the period from 2017 to the present. The corpus is mainly compiled from online news sources, and covers all major varieties of World English.

Period	Frequency per million words
Oct.–Dec. 2017	27
Jan.–Mar. 2018	41
Apr.–June 2018	40
July–Sept. 2018	39
Oct.–Dec. 2018	36
Jan.–Mar. 2019	38
Apr.–June 2019	35
July–Sept. 2019	31
Oct.–Dec. 2019	34
Jan.–Mar. 2020	31
Apr.–June 2020	28
July–Sept. 2020	27
Oct.–Dec. 2020	28
Jan.–Mar. 2021	27
Apr.–June 2021	27
July–Sept. 2021	27
Oct.–Dec. 2021	28
Jan.–Mar. 2022	28
Apr.–June 2022	28
July–Sept. 2022	27
Oct.–Dec. 2022	28
Jan.–Mar. 2023	26

Compounds & derived words

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Flemish fake, n. 1867–

(See quot.).

fakey, adj. 1888–

Resembling or characteristic of a fake (in various senses of fake, n.²); somewhat fake; esp. noticeably artificial or inauthentic.

fake news, n. 1890–

News that conveys or incorporates false, fabricated, or deliberately misleading information, or that is characterized as or accused of doing so.

fakeness, n. 1891–

The state or quality of being or appearing fake; deception; insincerity.

feke, n. 1901–

An object or device used by a conjuror to perform a particular trick or tricks. Cf. fake, n.² A.5.

head fake, n. 1936–

A feinting manoeuvre performed with the head in order to deceive an opponent; also in extended use.

fake fur, n. 1948–

Material which is designed to resemble animal fur in appearance and texture.

fakelore, n. 1949–

Specious folklore, esp. stories or songs with stereotypically folkloric elements which are presented as part of a genuine folk tradition.

fake book, n. 1950–

A book of music containing the basic chord sequences or melodies for particular songs, intended to help a performer to learn each song quickly, esp…

fake tan, n. 1950–

A lotion or cosmetic designed to give the skin a suntanned appearance (cf. self-tanner, n.); the appearance achieved by use of this; an artificial…

fakie, n., adj., & adv. 1953–

In skateboarding, snowboarding, BMX biking, etc.: a manoeuvre in which the board or bike is ridden backwards. Also as mass noun: the fact or state of…

pump fake, n. 1964–

A feigned throw intended to deceive an opponent.

Jafaican, n. & adj. 1995–

An informal name for: a variety of English originally and chiefly associated with young people in the multicultural neighbourhoods of inner-city…

deepfake, n. 2018–

Any of various media, esp. a video, that has been digitally manipulated to replace one person's likeness convincingly with that of another, often…

C.1.
1. fake news, n. 1890–
  
  News that conveys or incorporates false, fabricated, or deliberately misleading information, or that is characterized as or accused of doing so.
1. fake fur, n. 1948–
  
  Material which is designed to resemble animal fur in appearance and texture.
1. fake book, n. 1950–
  
  A book of music containing the basic chord sequences or melodies for particular songs, intended to help a performer to learn each song quickly, esp…
1. fake tan, n. 1950–
  
  A lotion or cosmetic designed to give the skin a suntanned appearance (cf. self-tanner, n.); the appearance achieved by use of this; an artificial…
C.2.
1938–

Combining with adjectives to form adjectives with the sense ‘imitating or simulating (what is expressed by the second element)’. Cf. faux adj.
1938
After the refined fake-English bleats of other speakers, the vigorous style and strong accent of ‘Uncle Scrim’ were found refreshing.
Smith's Weekly (Sydney) 10 September 6/5
1971
Fake-antique spinning wheels now becoming genuinely antique though still useless.
U. K. Le Guin, Lathe of Heaven (1973) x. 147
1981
They turned the Ugly Duckling into a kind of black-face humor piece, even done with what were ominously close to fake-black accents.
C. Bly, Letters from Country i. 7
2003
Ali G's gaudy fake-gritty persona is a satire of street cred as media schlockfest.
Vanity Fair March 140
colloquial and slang

Personal account

fakenoun2 & adjective

Quotations

Earlier version

Factsheet

What does the word fake mean?

How common is the word fake?

How is the word fake pronounced?

British English

U.S. English

Where does the word fake come from?

Nearby entries

Etymology

Summary

Meaning & use

Quotations

Contents

Earlier version

Pronunciation

British English

U.S. English

Consonants

Vowels

Other symbols

Consonants

Vowels

Other symbols

Consonants

Vowels

Frequency

Frequency of fake, n.² & adj., 1820–2010

Frequency of fake, n.² & adj., 2017–2023

Compounds & derived words

Show

Show

Quotations

Contents

Quotations

Earlier version

Factsheet

What does the word fake mean?

How common is the word fake?

How is the word fake pronounced?

British English

U.S. English

Where does the word fake come from?

Nearby entries

Etymology

Summary

Meaning & use

Quotations

Contents

Earlier version

Pronunciation

British English

U.S. English

British English

Consonants

Vowels

Other symbols

U.S. English

Consonants

Vowels

Other symbols

Simple Text Respell

Consonants

Vowels

Frequency

Frequency of fake, n.² & adj., 1820–2010

Frequency of fake, n.² & adj., 2017–2023

Compounds & derived words

Show

Show

Quotations

Contents