charlatan
UK: ˈʃɑː.lə.tən | US: ˈʃɑːr.lə.t̬ən
n. a person falsely claiming special knowledge or skill; a fraud or quack.
charlatan = charlat<chatter> + an<noun suffix>
- charlat<chatter>: Derived from Italian ciarlatano, meaning "prattler" or "quack," from ciarlare (to chatter).
- an<noun suffix>: A suffix used to form nouns denoting a person associated with a trait or action.
Etymology Origin:
The word charlatan traces back to 16th-century Italian ciarlatano, combining ciarlare (to babble) with -tano (a suffix implying profession). Originally describing street vendors who used loud, deceptive pitches to sell dubious goods, it evolved into English to denote anyone fraudulently claiming expertise. The root reflects the link between empty talk (charlat) and deceitful personas (-an).
The self-proclaimed doctor was exposed as a charlatan with no medical training.
Politicians accused him of being a charlatan who manipulated public opinion.
The art forger was a skilled charlatan who fooled even experts.
She dismissed the psychic as a charlatan preying on vulnerable people.
His flashy demonstrations were pure charlatanism, lacking any scientific basis.