Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
counterfeited
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
'counterfeited' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is the past tense and past participle form of the verb 'counterfeit', which means to make an exact imitation or copy of something. Here is an example sentence using 'counterfeited': The police discovered a large quantity of counterfeited money in the suspect's house during the raid.
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Encyclopedias
Science
Alternative expressions(10)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
60 human-written examples
For an anti-counterfeiting guy, there is never a shortage of work — practically everything is counterfeited.
News & Media
The theme of the event was zhen de jia bu liao (roughly: "what is genuine cannot be counterfeited")..Yet Da Vinci is embroiled in a scandal.
News & Media
The first time FD 26 was counterfeited was only a few months after the original appeared, and it has been bootlegged many times since.Grant McKinnon, a poster dealer in San Francisco, explains that in the rock'n'roll field, many of the original artists, printers and negatives are still around, so primary-source knowledge is fairly easy to come by.
News & Media
Indecision time Between Brussels and Russia A new man for the job Hail Helvetia Reprints"There are defence companies that export all over Europe, but not to Italy, because they believe that what they make will be counterfeited and that to get redress will take many years," says a commercial diplomat.
News & Media
The opportunity to vote could be secured by producing a registration slip, easily counterfeited.
News & Media
Strapped for cash, the government seems, once again, to be cranking up the currency presses: diplomats allege that in the past five months the central bank has counterfeited its own money, by duplicating fresh bills.
News & Media
Shopkeepers are suspicious of all banknotes anyway, because a previous government once counterfeited its own currency (the official printers printed two or more copies for each serial number, and various cronies kept the duplicates).
News & Media
Many coins were counterfeited in antiquity, either for profit or out of necessity.
Encyclopedias
Theatres were viewed as houses of Proteus, and, in the metamorphic fears of the city, it was not only the players who shifted shapes, confounded categories, and counterfeited roles.
Encyclopedias
Even so, filmmakers were unlikely to realize their full profit, because, according to World Bank estimates, for every video sold legitimately, nine were counterfeited.
Encyclopedias
"As one of the world's most popular brands and images that is regularly counterfeited, the formalisation of approved and official Bob Marley merchandise will be supported with strong brand guidelines, managed by an internal Bob Marley brand team," explained Reyaz A Kassamali, managing director of Hilco.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When discussing the creation of fraudulent documents or currency, use "counterfeited" to emphasize the intent to deceive.
Common error
Avoid using "counterfeited" when simply referring to something that is copied or imitated without the intent to deceive. Use alternative terms like "imitated" or "replicated" in those cases.
Source & Trust
89%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The primary grammatical function of "counterfeited" is to act as the past tense and past participle of the verb "counterfeit". As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it describes the action of creating a fraudulent imitation. Examples include "The money was counterfeited" and "The documents were counterfeited."
Frequent in
News & Media
75%
Encyclopedias
15%
Science
10%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Wiki
0%
Social Media
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "counterfeited" is the past tense and past participle of "counterfeit", denoting the act of fraudulently imitating something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is frequently found in news and media, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts, indicating a neutral register. While related to terms like "forged" and "falsified", it specifically emphasizes the creation of an illegal imitation for deceptive purposes. A key writing tip is to use "counterfeited" only when referring to intentional deception, avoiding its use for simple imitation. The most authoritative sources for its usage include The New York Times, The Economist, and The New Yorker, marking it as a well-established term in English writing.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
forged
Implies the creation of a fraudulent copy, particularly of a signature or document.
falsified
Suggests the alteration or manipulation of something to deceive.
faked
A more general term for creating a deceptive imitation.
imitated
Focuses on the act of copying, without necessarily implying fraudulent intent.
replicated
Emphasizes the creation of an exact copy, often in a technical or scientific context.
copied illegally
Highlights the unlawful aspect of creating a duplicate.
bootlegged
Refers specifically to the illegal production and distribution of goods, such as alcohol or recordings.
pirated
Commonly used in the context of illegally copying software, movies, or music.
sham
Implies that the original item is only a superficial, fake imitation. It stresses more the 'poor' quality of the imitation than the act of counterfeiting itself.
duplicated
Highlights the act of making something twofold. When it comes to fake money, duplicated also means counterfeited. It puts more emphasis on the physical result than the intention to fraud.
FAQs
How is "counterfeited" typically used in a sentence?
What are some alternatives to using "counterfeited"?
Is there a difference between "counterfeited" and "copied"?
"Counterfeited" implies an illegal or deceptive imitation, often of valuable items like money or documents. "Copied" is a more general term for making a duplicate, without necessarily implying any illegal or fraudulent intent.
Which items are most likely to be "counterfeited"?
Items that are frequently "counterfeited" include currency, designer goods, pharmaceuticals, and official documents. These items are often targeted because of their high value or the potential for profit.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
89%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested