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faker faker — noun 1. someone whose behaviour shows feelings or qualities that are not genuine, often 1. noun B2
someone whose behaviour shows feelings or qualities that are not genuine, often in order to be liked or trusted by others
Ayesha smiled warmly, but everyone knew she was a faker who disliked her hosts.
faker who + [verb phrase describing the deceit]
A man claimed to be a war hero, but investigators proved he was a faker.
proved to be a faker
View 2 more examples Élise was a faker who acted friendly while spreading rumours behind people's backs.
called... a faker
Tamar found her new friend was a faker who only pretended to share her interests.
a faker who... proved to be a faker called... a faker exposed as a faker
hypocrite stronger moral judgement; suggests someone who preaches one standard but lives by another
phony informal; describes someone whose friendliness or concern is obviously not real
impostor someone who assumes a false identity, often pretending to be a specific person or professional
genuine person someone whose feelings and behaviour are consistent and honest
Common Mistakes He is a liar who pretends to care about the poor. He is a faker who pretends to care about the poor. 'liar' focuses on spoken falsehoods, while 'faker' covers pretending through behaviour, not just words. 2. someone who claims to be sick or to have a health problem that is not real, ofte 2. noun B2
someone who claims to be sick or to have a health problem that is not real, often as a way of escaping duties or obligations
The doctor suspected the patient was a faker who wanted medication, not a proper examination.
suspected... was a faker
Jude coughed loudly each morning, but his teacher knew he was a faker skipping class.
was a faker trying to [verb phrase]
View 2 more examples When Putri claimed she had a fever again, her mother called her a faker.
called her a faker
Hamza called in sick every Monday, and his boss eventually fired the faker.
suspected... was a faker called... a faker a faker trying to... exposed as a faker
malingerer more formal and clinical; specifically refers to someone who fakes illness to avoid duty
pretender broader; can apply to any kind of false claim, not just illness
Common Mistakes The hypochondriac is always at the doctor — a real faker. The malingerer is always at the doctor a real faker.' — a hypochondriac genuinely believes they are ill; a faker knows they are not. 3. a person who creates items that appear to be genuine or valuable but are actuall 3. noun B2
a person who creates items that appear to be genuine or valuable but are actually fake, with the intention of cheating buyers or collectors
The police arrested a faker who sold fake designer handbags to tourists.
arrested a faker who + [illegal activity]
Chidi discovered the painting was worthless when experts named the artist as a known faker.
known faker
View 2 more examples Ignacio bought a vase from a faker who produced copies in his basement workshop.
from a faker who + [production method]
Michael bought a signed baseball glove, but the signature came from a known faker.
arrested a faker known faker from a faker exposed as a faker
forger focuses on creating fake documents, signatures, or art rather than general goods
counterfeiter typically applies to someone who makes fake money, documents, or official items
fraudster broader in meaning; someone who uses any kind of deception for financial gain
Common Mistakes The thief broke into the museum and stole the painting. The faker copied the painting and sold it as an original. a faker deceives through forgery, not theft. Sense: noun/1
All five words describe someone whose outward appearance does not match the truth, but they differ in emphasis and domain. A faker pretends through behaviour — acting friendly while disliking you, or claiming skills they lack. A hypocrite specifically preaches values they themselves violate, carrying a moral judgement that faker does not always imply. Phony is informal and suggests an obvious, almost theatrical lack of genuineness — a phony smile that everyone sees through. An impostor goes further by assuming a specific false identity, such as pretending to be a doctor or a long-lost relative. Fraud is the broadest word, covering both identity deception and financial scams, and is often used in legal contexts. For everyday situations where someone's warmth or concern is not real, faker is the most neutral and direct choice.
Phrases exposed as a faker proved to be a faker known faker call someone a faker Formed by adding the agent suffix '-er' (someone who does something) to the English word 'fake', which first appeared in the 18th century in British criminal slang. The original verb 'fake' meant 'to do, make, or construct' in thieves' cant, and later shifted to mean 'to make something appear genuine when it is not'.