Pretending something is real or true when it isn't, or making something false look real or authentic.
From 'fake,' which entered English around the 1600s, possibly from German 'fegen' (to sweep or clean) or Dutch origins. Originally referred to creating or preparing something deceptively.
The word 'fake' became super common in English around the time of Renaissance trickery and con artists, and now it's everywhere because spotting fakes became increasingly important as trade and commerce grew.
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