Word of the Day

pinchbeck

[pinch-bek]

adjective:

sham, spurious, or counterfeit

Explanation

Pinchbeck describes something that looks valuable or impressive but is actually cheap or downright fake. The word comes from a real person: Christopher Pinchbeck, an 18th-century watchmaker who created a copper-zinc alloy to mimic gold. But pinchbeck or not, if that bracelet you found at the thrift store makes you feel good, that's all that matters!

Example: She wore a pinchbeck brooch that gleamed like real gold in the candlelight.