French word

contrefaçon

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔ̃tʁəfasɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nounfake

Example

Elle a acheté une contrefaçon au marché.

She bought a fake at the market.

Illustration for contrefaçon (fake)

More examples

Ne te laisse pas tromper par une contrefaçon sur internet.

Don't let a counterfeit online fool you.

Core concept

A copied product enters the market wearing the identity of the genuine brand and causing it commercial harm.

Common phrases

  • vente de contrefaçon

    sale of counterfeits

  • marché de la contrefaçon

    market for counterfeit goods

Similar words

imitation: An object made to resemble the appearance or features of the original.
copie: A reproduction made to match an original item.
falsification: A dishonest fake or the act of altering something to misrepresent its value or truth.

Definition in French

Produit imité vendu comme l'original, sans autorisation du fabricant et portant préjudice à la marque.

Word origin

Contrefaçon developed from Old French contrefaccion, related to contrefaire and ultimately to Latin contra, "against," and facere, "to make."

Usage tips

  • Contrefaçon belongs mainly to commercial and legal usage, while faux and imitation are more common in ordinary descriptions.

Other meanings

  • imitationnoun
  • forgerynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • contrefaçonnerforgeverb
  • contrefaitfalsifiedadjective

Word lists with this word