What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Humbug vs Fake - What's the difference?

humbug | fake | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between humbug and fake

is that humbug is a hoax, prank or jest while fake is something which is not genuine, or is presented fraudulently.

As verbs the difference between humbug and fake

is that humbug is to play a trick on while fake is to cheat; to swindle; to steal; to rob.

As an interjection humbug

is nonsense.

As an adjective fake is

not real; false, fraudulent.

humbug

English

Noun

(wikipedia humbug) (en noun)
  • A hoax, prank or jest
  • A fraud or sham
  • A fraudster or cheat
  • * 1903 , , Act III:
  • *:He means that he has sold out to the parliamentary humbugs and the bourgeoisie. Compromise! that is his faith.
  • (British) A type of chewy sweet (candy)

    • Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • nonsense!
  • * 1843 , ,
    • ‘A Merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!’ cried a cheerful voice. It was the voice of Scrooge’s nephew, who came upon him so quickly that this was the first intimation he had of his approach.
    ‘Bah!’ said Scrooge, ‘Humbug !’

    Verb

  • To play a trick on.
  • To cheat, swindle.

    • Derived terms

    * humbugger * humbuggery

    Usage notes

    * The spellings (humbuging) and (humbuged) exist, but are not nearly so common as (humbugging) and (humbugged).

    References

    * OED 2nd edition 1989 * * ----

    fake

    English

    Etymology 1

    (wikipedia fake) The origin is not known with certainty, although first attested in 1775

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Not real; false, fraudulent.
    • Which fur coat looks fake ?
    Synonyms
    * See also
    Antonyms
    * genuine

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something which is not genuine, or is presented fraudulently.
  • A trick; a swindle.
  • (soccer) Move meant to deceive an opposing player, used for gaining advantage when dribbling an opponent.
    • Synonyms
    * (soccer move) feint, (ice hokey move) deke

    Verb

    (fak)
  • To cheat; to swindle; to steal; to rob.
  • To make; to construct; to do. (rfexample)
  • To modify fraudulently, so as to make an object appear better or other than it really is; as, to fake a bulldog, by burning his upper lip and thus artificially shortening it.
  • To make a counterfeit, to counterfeit, to forge, to falsify.
  • To make a false display of, to affect, to feign, to simulate.
    • Synonyms
    * (To modify fraudulently) adulterate * (To make a false display) pass off, pose
    Derived terms
    * fake out * faker

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), to coil a rope .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (nautical) One of the circles or windings of a cable or hawser, as it lies in a coil; a single turn or coil.

    • Verb

    (fak)
  • (nautical) To coil (a rope, line, or hawser), by winding alternately in opposite directions, in layers usually of zigzag or figure of eight form, to prevent twisting when running out.