Charlatanry

/ˈʃɑɹlətənri/ noun

Definition

The practice or behavior of charlatan; fraud, deception, or pretense of knowledge or ability.

Etymology

From charlatan plus the suffix -ry, which transforms nouns into abstract nouns describing practices or behavior, similar to 'trickery' from 'trickster.'

Kelly Says

Charlatanry was so common that newspapers in the 1800s had regular sections exposing it—exposing fake doctors and fraudsters became a form of muckraking journalism that helped drive regulation!

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