Random
Source Code

Ingenuine

Meaning: adj. Not genuine; false; not authentic. Normally associated with persons, behaviours and experiences rather than items.

Etymology: Contrary to popular belief (google the term for examples), this is in fact a word, and can be cited as far back as the 17th Century:

1675 R. Burthogge Cavsa Dei 352 'A many false, supposititious, and ingenuine' Writings.

Source: Oxford English Dictionary online.

The word can be made by attaching the prefix in- (a variant of un-) to the existing word 'genuine', in parallel to in- + sincere, in- + compatible, in- + valid and so on.

Although it may often be confused with 'ingenuous', this is a simple malapropism and does not affect the validity of the word.

1. Bob's offer to buy Bill a present was ingenuine.

2. Her smile was ingenuine.

3. The tourist attraction gives an ingenuine experience of life in the 1500s.

by badlydrawnfox January 31, 2012

37👍 15👎