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charlatan

charlatan, quack

noun shar-lah-TAHN Rare
People & Society Crime

Origin: Italian 'ciarlatano' (a peddler from Cerreto)

Also means

fraud, impostor

Usage Note

Charlatan originally described travelling quack doctors selling fake remedies at fairs; today it applies broadly to anyone who fraudulently claims expertise. The adjective charlatanesque exists but is rare. The derived noun charlatanisme (m) means 'charlatanism' or quackery. The word is used in both medical and political contexts.

Examples

"Ce médecin n'est qu'un charlatan qui vend de faux remèdes."

Natural Translation

That doctor is nothing but a quack selling fake remedies.

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