Fake vs. Real: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 26, 2023
Fake refers to something not genuine or counterfeit, while real denotes something authentic, actual, or factual.
Key Differences
The term 'fake' implies a lack of authenticity or imitation of something else with the intent to deceive. It encompasses objects, emotions, or information that are not what they seem to be. On the contrary, 'real' refers to things that are authentic and genuine, representing truth and reality without pretense or imitation. While fake items mislead, real items assure authenticity.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Fake products or information are often created to mimic the real thing but lack the inherent value or truth of the original. This can include counterfeit goods, fabricated stories, or insincere emotions. Real, in contrast, is used to describe objects or information that are original, authentic, and honest in nature. Real items or information are valued for their authenticity and genuineness.
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Dec 26, 2023
In the context of relationships or emotions, a fake attitude or gesture is one that is performed with deceit or hypocrisy, lacking genuine feeling or intent. Conversely, real emotions or actions in relationships are marked by sincerity, honesty, and genuine feelings. Real emotions build trust, whereas fake emotions can erode it.
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Dec 26, 2023
In art or collectibles, a fake is an unauthorized copy or forgery, often made to deceive by passing it off as the original. Real art or collectibles, however, are original pieces, valued for their authenticity, craftsmanship, and historical significance. The distinction between fake and real in art significantly affects both value and perception.
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Dec 26, 2023
In the digital world, fake news or information is fabricated or manipulated content spread to mislead or propagate certain agendas. Real news, on the other hand, is based on factual reporting and responsible journalism. The impact of fake versus real information is particularly significant in shaping public opinion and discourse.
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Dec 26, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Authenticity
Lacks authenticity; imitation or counterfeit.
Genuine and original.
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Intention
Often intended to deceive or mimic.
Represents truth and factual reality.
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Value
Usually has less value due to inauthenticity.
Valued for its authenticity and originality.
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Emotional Sincerity
Can involve insincere or hypocritical emotions.
Involves sincere, genuine emotions.
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Dec 26, 2023
Information or News
Fabricated or manipulated to mislead.
Based on facts and reality; trustworthy.
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Dec 26, 2023
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Fake and Real Definitions
Fake
Artificially created or simulated.
The movie used fake blood for special effects.
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Real
Truly existing or occurring in fact; not imagined.
The threat was real, causing widespread panic.
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Dec 26, 2023
Fake
Pretending to be something else for deception.
She wore a fake diamond necklace to the party.
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Dec 26, 2023
Real
Authentic and genuine, not imitation.
The museum displayed real artifacts from ancient Egypt.
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Dec 26, 2023
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Real
Legitimate or true to its nature.
His real talent for painting was undisputed.
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Real
Being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verifiable existence
Real objects.
A real illness.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fake
(Sports) A brief feint or aborted change of direction intended to mislead one's opponent or the opposing team.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
True and actual; not imaginary, alleged, or ideal
Real people, not ghosts.
A film based on real life.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Of or founded on practical matters and concerns
A recent graduate experiencing the real world for the first time.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Genuine and authentic; not artificial or spurious
Real mink.
Real humility.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fake
To simulate; feign
Faked his death so his wife would collect insurance money.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Free of pretense, falsehood, or affectation
Tourists hoping for a real experience on the guided tour.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
(Philosophy) Existing objectively in the world regardless of subjectivity or conventions of thought or language.
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Real
Relating to, being, or having value reckoned by actual purchasing power
Real income.
Real growth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
(Physics) Of, relating to, or being an image formed by light rays that converge in space.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
(Law) Of or relating to stationary or fixed property, such as buildings or land.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fake
Something which is not genuine, or is presented fraudulently.
I suspect this passport is a fake.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fake
(sports) A move meant to deceive an opposing player, used for gaining advantage for example when dribbling an opponent.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
A thing or whole having actual existence. Often used with the
Theories beyond the realm of the real.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fake
(nautical) One of the circles or windings of a cable or hawser, as it lies in a coil; a single turn or coil.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fake
(transitive) To make a counterfeit, to counterfeit, to forge, to falsify.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fake
(transitive) To make a false display of, to affect, to feign, to simulate.
To fake a marriage
To fake happiness
To fake a smile
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Oct 19, 2023
Fake
(archaic) To modify fraudulently, so as to make an object appear better or other than it really is
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Oct 19, 2023
Fake
(nautical) To coil (a rope, line, or hawser), by winding alternately in opposite directions, in layers usually of zigzag or figure of eight form, to prevent twisting when running out.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Actually being, existing, or occurring; not fictitious or imaginary.
A description of real life
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Oct 19, 2023
Fake
One of the circles or windings of a cable or hawser, as it lies in a coil; a single turn or coil.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
That has objective, physical existence.
No one has ever seen a real unicorn.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
(economics) Having been adjusted to remove the effects of inflation; measured in purchasing power contrast nominal.
My dad calculated my family's real consumption per month.
What is the real GNP of this polity?
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Oct 19, 2023
Fake
To coil (a rope, line, or hawser), by winding alternately in opposite directions, in layers usually of zigzag or figure of eight form,, to prevent twisting when running out.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
(economics) Relating to the result of the actions of rational agents; relating to neoclassical economic models as opposed to Keynesian models.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Being either a rational number, or the limit of a convergent infinite sequence of rational numbers: being one of a set of numbers with a one-to-one correspondence to the points on a line.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
(legal) Relating to immovable tangible property.
Real estate;
Real property
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Oct 19, 2023
Fake
To manipulate fraudulently, so as to make an object appear better or other than it really is; as, to fake a bulldog, by burning his upper lip and thus artificially shortening it.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
(slang) Signifying meritorious qualities or actions especially as regard the enjoyment of life, prowess at sports, or success wooing potential partners.
I'm keeping it real.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fake
Make a copy of with the intent to deceive;
He faked the signature
They counterfeited dollar bills
She forged a Green Card
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Real
(grammar) One of the three genders that the common gender can be separated into in the Scandinavian languages.
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Fake
Talk through one's hat;
The politician was not well prepared for the debate and faked it
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Oct 19, 2023
Fake
Not genuine or real; being an imitation of the genuine article;
It isn't fake anything; it's real synthetic fur
Faux pearls
False teeth
Decorated with imitation palm leaves
A purse of simulated alligator hide
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Oct 19, 2023
Fake
Not genuine; imitation or counterfeit.
The painting was a fake, expertly crafted to look like the original.
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Dec 26, 2023
Real
A unit of currency used in Portugal and its colonies from 1430 until 1911, and in Brazil from 1790 until 1942.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fake
Intentionally deceptive or fraudulent.
He gave a fake smile to hide his disappointment.
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Dec 26, 2023
Fake
A person who falsely represents themselves.
He was a fake, pretending to be a doctor.
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Dec 26, 2023
Real
A former small Spanish silver coin; also, a denomination of money of account, formerly the unit of the Spanish monetary system.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Actually being or existing; not fictitious or imaginary; as, a description of real life.
Whereat I waked, and foundBefore mine eyes all real, as the dreamHad lively shadowed.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
True; genuine; not artificial, counterfeit, or factitious; often opposed to ostensible; as, the real reason; real Madeira wine; real ginger.
Whose perfection far excelledHers in all real dignity.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Relating to things, not to persons.
Many are perfect in men's humors that are not greatly capable of the real part of business.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Having an assignable arithmetical or numerical value or meaning; not imaginary.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Pertaining to things fixed, permanent, or immovable, as to lands and tenements; as, real property, in distinction from personal or movable property.
For he that but conceives a crime in thought,Contracts the danger of an actual fault.
Our simple ideas are all real; all agree to the reality of things.
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory;
Real objects
Real people; not ghosts
A film based on real life
A real illness
Real humility
Life is real! Life is earnest!
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
No less than what is stated; worthy of the name;
The real reason
Real war
A real friend
A real woman
Meat and potatoes--I call that a real meal
It's time he had a real job
It's no penny-ante job--he's making real money
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something;
Her actual motive
A literal solitude like a desert
A genuine dilemma
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Not synthetic or spurious; of real or natural origin;
Real mink
True gold
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Not to be taken lightly;
Statistics demonstrate that poverty and unemployment are very real problems
To the man sleeping regularly in doorways homelessness is real
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Real
Possible to be treated as fact;
Tangible evidence
His brief time as Prime Minister brought few real benefits to the poor
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Real
Being value measured in terms of purchasing power;
Real prices
Real income
Real wages
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Real
Having substance or capable of being treated as fact; not imaginary;
The substantial world
A mere dream, neither substantial nor practical
Most ponderous and substantial things
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Real
(of property) fixed or immovable;
Real property consists of land and buildings; real estate
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Real
Coinciding with reality;
Perceptual error...has a surprising resemblance to veridical perception
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Real
Founded on practical matters;
A recent graduate experiencing the real world for the first time
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Used as intensifiers; `real' is sometimes used informally for `really'; `rattling' is informal;
She was very gifted
He played very well
A really enjoyable evening
I'm real sorry about it
A rattling good yarn
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Oct 19, 2023
Real
Sincere and genuine, not fake or artificial.
Her concern for others was real and heartfelt.
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Dec 26, 2023
Real
Actual, not fictional or hypothetical.
The characters in the documentary were real people with real stories.
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Dec 26, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can emotions be fake?
Yes, when they're insincere or performed for deception.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
What defines something as fake?
Being counterfeit, imitation, or intended to deceive.
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Dec 26, 2023
How do we identify real objects?
By their authenticity, originality, and factual existence.
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Dec 26, 2023
Is real always better than fake?
Generally, in terms of value and authenticity, yes.
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Dec 26, 2023
What's the impact of fake news?
It can mislead and manipulate public opinion.
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Dec 26, 2023
How can one spot a fake product?
By examining quality, branding, and source.
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Dec 26, 2023
Why is real information crucial?
For making informed decisions and understanding reality.
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Dec 26, 2023
Why are fake products cheaper?
They lack the quality and authenticity of real products.
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Dec 26, 2023
Do real emotions affect relationships?
Yes, they build trust and authenticity in relationships.
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Dec 26, 2023
Does real always mean physical?
Not necessarily; it can refer to genuine emotions or situations.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
How do art experts distinguish fake art?
Through analysis of materials, craftsmanship, and provenance.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Can people have fake identities?
Yes, especially in fraudulent or deceptive contexts.
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Dec 26, 2023
Can a fake painting be valuable?
Only as a curiosity or example of forgery.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Are real diamonds more valuable than fake?
Yes, due to their rarity and natural formation.
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Dec 26, 2023
Can a fake become real?
Not in terms of authenticity; an imitation remains an imitation.
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Dec 26, 2023
Is real gold distinguishable from fake?
Yes, through tests like density, color, and chemical analysis.
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Dec 26, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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