What does faking mean?
Faking is the present participle and gerund of the verb "fake," meaning to create a fraudulent copy of something or to pretend to have, feel, or be something one is not. It covers everything from forging documents and counterfeiting artwork to feigning illness, enthusiasm, or confidence. The word carries strongly negative connotations of deception and dishonesty, though the popular phrase "faking it till you make it" gives it a more playful edge, describing the practice of acting capable until competence genuinely arrives. Common contexts include accusations of athletes faking injuries, suspects faking alibis, and people faking emotions on social media. As a noun, a faking can refer to an instance of such pretense. The underlying verb "fake" emerged as British criminal slang in the early nineteenth century, and despite widespread use today, its ultimate origin remains uncertain, making it one of the more intriguing words in modern English.
Present participle and gerund of fake: to produce a fraudulent imitation of something, or to pretend to have, feel, or be something in order to deceive.
"The forger spent years faking Old Master paintings before he was caught."
An act or instance of faking; counterfeit material or deceptive pretense.
"Detecting faking among job applicants is a key challenge in personality testing."
Nobody knows for sure where "fake" came from — it appeared as criminal slang around the early 1800s and its true origins remain one of English's unsolved mysteries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of faking
The verb "fake" first appeared in print around the early nineteenth century, originally as British thieves' slang meaning to do, manipulate, or tamper with something before narrowing to mean counterfeiting. Its deeper origin is unknown; lexicographers have proposed links to German "fegen" (to sweep or polish) but no connection has been proven. From this verb came the adjective and noun "fake" by the mid-nineteenth century, with "faking" following naturally as its participle and verbal noun.
Related word forms
How faking is actually used
Informal to neutral register. The phrase "faking it" is common colloquially, often in "faking it till you make it," referring to projecting confidence one does not yet feel. In sports contexts, faking carries connotations of gamesmanship or cheating.
Easily confused with faking
"Facing" means turning toward or confronting something, while "faking" means counterfeiting or pretending.
"Flaking" refers to coming off in small thin pieces or slacking off informally, whereas "faking" means making an imitation or pretense.