The difference between Counterfeit and Phony
When used as nouns, counterfeit means a non-genuine article, whereas phony means a person who assumes an identity or quality other than their own.
When used as adjectives, counterfeit means false, especially of money, whereas phony means fraudulent.
Counterfeit is also verb with the meaning: to falsely produce what appears to be official or valid.
check bellow for the other definitions of Counterfeit and Phony
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Counterfeit as an adjective:
False, especially of money; intended to deceive or carry appearance of being genuine.
Examples:
"This counterfeit watch looks like the real thing, but it broke a week after I bought it."
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Counterfeit as an adjective:
Inauthentic.
Examples:
"counterfeit sympathy"
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Counterfeit as an adjective:
Assuming the appearance of something; deceitful; hypocritical.
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Counterfeit as a noun:
A non-genuine article; a fake.
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Counterfeit as a noun:
One who counterfeits; a counterfeiter.
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Counterfeit as a noun (obsolete):
That which resembles another thing; a likeness; a portrait; a counterpart.
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Counterfeit as a noun (obsolete):
An impostor; a cheat.
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Counterfeit as a verb (transitive):
To falsely produce what appears to be official or valid; to produce a forged copy of.
Examples:
"to counterfeit the signature of another, coins, notes, etc."
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Counterfeit as a verb (transitive, obsolete):
To produce a faithful copy of.
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Counterfeit as a verb (transitive, obsolete):
To feign; to mimic.
Examples:
"to counterfeit the voice of another person"
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Counterfeit as a verb (transitive, poker, usually "be counterfeited"):
Of a turn or river card, to invalidate a player's hand by making a better hand on the board.
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Phony as an adjective:
Fraudulent; fake; having a misleading appearance.
Examples:
"A good jeweler should be able to tell a real stone from a phony one."
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Phony as a noun:
A person who assumes an identity or quality other than their own.
Examples:
"He claims to be a doctor, but he's nothing but a fast-talking phony."
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Phony as a noun:
A person who professes beliefs or opinions that they do not hold.
Examples:
"He's such a phony, he doesn't believe half of what he says."