Charlatan
/ˈʃɑːr.lə.tən/noun
A person who falsely claims to have special knowledge or skill; a fraud or quack.
Did you know?The word entered English through French and Italian, and its exact deeper origin is uncertain, but it was long tied to street sellers, quacks, and theatrical deception.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
Italian
ciarlatano
“A quack, mountebank, or boastful peddler of fake cures”
16th Century
French
charlatan
“A quack doctor or trickster who sold remedies in public”
Late 16th Century
English
charlatan
“A quack or fraudulent pretender”
Modern English
English
charlatan
“A person who deceives others by pretending to have knowledge or abilities they do not possess”