He gave me a <u>counterfeit</u> coin. (Select the word or group of words that is most similar in meaning to the underlined word.)

Correct: B, 'fake'. A counterfeit coin is one made in imitation of a genuine coin so as to pass for it, and 'fake' is the ordinary word for an imitation meant to deceive. What the word reports is not the quality of the coin but the fact that it is not what it pretends to be.

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  rare: Rarity makes a genuine coin more valuable, whereas a counterfeit is worthless however scarce it is.
• (c)
  unmatured: This belongs to instruments such as bonds and deposits that have a date of maturity, and it makes no sense of a coin.
• (d)
  inferior: An inferior coin is merely of poor quality; a skilfully made counterfeit can look excellent, so poor quality is neither necessary nor sufficient.

'Counterfeit' means made in exact imitation of something valuable with intent to deceive, and it works as adjective, noun and verb.

Key facts

• Counterfeiting currency is a criminal offence, which is why the word is common in reports of fake notes.
• 'Forgery' is the parallel term for documents and signatures, while 'counterfeit' is used chiefly of money and goods.
• The word also names the object itself, as in 'the note was a counterfeit'.

Common traps

• Choosing 'inferior' by assuming a fake must be badly made.
• Reading 'counterfeit' as merely unusual, which pulls towards 'rare'.

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice, not a real PYQ

  Choose the word nearest in meaning to 'counterfeit' in 'The shop was fined for selling counterfeit goods.'

  • (a)imported
  • (b)imitation
  • (c)damaged
  • (d)expensive
  Answer(b) imitation: counterfeit goods are copies passed off as genuine.
• practice, not a real PYQ

  Choose the word nearest in meaning to 'spurious' in 'He produced a spurious certificate.'

  • (a)genuine
  • (b)false
  • (c)recent
  • (d)detailed
  Answer(b) false: a spurious document is not authentic.