Ersatz
/ˈɛərzɑːts/
adjectivenounC2
Definition
Ersatz describes things that are not original but made to seem like the real, original item. It often means the item is a cheap or bad copy. People use it when something is fake or artificial instead of natural or genuine.
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See It in Action
Adjective meaning artificial or not genuine
- •They served ersatz coffee because the real one was too expensive.
- •The museum displayed ersatz jewels made of glass.
- •He wore an ersatz leather jacket that looked real but was cheap.
Noun meaning a substitute or imitation product
- •During shortages, ersatz was often used instead of real materials.
- •The ersatz tasted nothing like the original chocolate.
- •Many people rejected the ersatz as it lacked quality.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "ersatz" like "fake," but more formal and often about things trying to be like the real thing, not just any fake
- ✓Picture a plastic flower that looks like a real flower but feels different and less nice
- ✓It's the feeling of disappointment when you expect something real but get a copy that does not work well
- ✓Sounds like "air-zots" → imagine air (something empty) trying to fill a box (zots), showing it's not solid or real
- ✓In stories, ersatz items are often used when real things are rare or expensive, like ersatz coffee during war times when real coffee was missing
- ✓NOT like "real" (genuine, original) but "ersatz" is a substitute, often lower quality
- ✓NOT like "improve" (making better), ersatz means a copy, not an improvement
- ✓NOT like "original" (first, authentic), ersatz is the opposite: a copy or imitation
Try Other Words
- •Artificial: made by people, not natural (Use when emphasizing something is man-made, not natural)
- •Imitation: copy of something real (Use when focus is on copying appearance)
- •Substitute: something used instead of the original (Use when focusing on replacement, not quality)
- •Fake: not real or genuine (Use in informal contexts for general fakes)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No clear prefix or suffix; "ersatz" is a whole borrowed word
- •Etymology: From German "ersatz," meaning "replacement" or "substitute"
- •Historical development: Entered English in early 20th century, especially during World Wars when real goods were scarce
- •Modern usage: Used in English to describe poor-quality substitutes or artificial versions of real things, often with a negative meaning
- •Key insight: The word implies both replacement and lower quality than the original
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when you had to use an ersatz product? How did it feel compared to the real one?
•Why might people choose ersatz items even if they know these are not as good as the original?
Fill in the blanks
1.During the war, people drank ersatz coffee because the ___ was not available.
2.An ersatz product often feels ___ and less satisfying than the original.
3.Unlike genuine leather, ersatz leather is ___ and usually cheaper.
4.When someone offers an ersatz solution, it means they provide a ___, not the real answer.
5.The ersatz flowers looked real but lacked the ___ of natural ones.
6.She refused to buy the ersatz because she wanted something ___.
7.In some stories, ersatz items symbolize ___ or loss of quality.