ersatz
UK: ˈɛəzæts | US: ˈɛrzɑːts
adj. serving as a substitute, especially of inferior quality; artificial or imitation
n. an artificial or inferior substitute
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The word "ersatz" was borrowed directly from German in the late 19th century, where it originally meant "compensation" or "replacement." It gained broader usage during World War I and II to describe inferior substitutes for scarce goods (e.g., ersatz coffee made from acorns). The term retains its German spelling and connotes something artificial or makeshift, often with a negative nuance. Unlike compound words, "ersatz" is monomorphic in English and not further divisible while preserving its original spelling.
During the war, people relied on ersatz products like synthetic rubber.
The café served ersatz coffee made from roasted grains.
His ersatz enthusiasm fooled no one.
The painting was an ersatz version of the famous masterpiece.
Critics dismissed the film as an ersatz imitation of classic noir.