Fake refers to something that is not genuine, a forgery or counterfeit. It is intended to deceive or mislead by appearing or claiming to be something it's not, often to gain personal advantages or profits. It can refer to objects, actions, feelings, or even people who present themselves deceptively. What is a basic definition of fake? Fake describes something as not being real or as being an imitation that is designed to trick someone into thinking it is real or original. 1. to create or render so as to mislead, deceive, or defraud others: to fake a report. 2. to pretend; feign: to fake illness. 3. to counterfeit: to fake a person's signature. 4. to accomplish by improvising. fake noun [C] (COPY) something that is intended to look like and be mistaken for something else, esp. a copy made in order to deceive: Some common synonyms of fake are counterfeit, fraud, humbug, imposture, and sham. While all these words mean a thing made to seem other than it is, fake implies an imitation of or substitution for the genuine but does not necessarily imply dishonesty. fake (third-person singular simple present fakes, present participle faking, simple past and past participle faked) (transitive) To make a counterfeit, to counterfeit, to forge, to falsify. fake definition: not real, made to trick or imitate something real. Check meanings, examples, usage tips, pronunciation, domains, and related words. Discover expressions like fake it , fake it till one makes it , fake it until one makes it. The meaning of FAKE is not true, real, or genuine : counterfeit, sham. How to use fake in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Fake. Something that's fake isn't authentic. A person who falsely claims to be, feel, or do something can be said to be fake. When your friend acts sweet but spreads rumors about you behind your back, you can call her a fake. As a verb, fake means to take an action with the intent to deceive. fake noun [C] (COPY) something that is intended to look like and be mistaken for something else, esp. a copy made in order to deceive.