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ersatz Definition

er·satz (erzäts′, er zäts)

noun, adjective

substitute or synthetic: the word usually suggests inferior quality

Etymology: Ger, lit., replacement < ersetzen, to replace < er- (< OHG ir-, re-) + setzen, to place, set

ersatz Synonyms

ersatz

modif.

ersatz Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • coffee: I went inside the plane and found some little bags of ersatz coffee.
  • version: Daytime boss Alison Sharman wants to find space for Loose Women, ITV's ersatz version of America's The View.
  • culture: Is kitsch always recognizable as formulaic, superficial, as ' ersatz culture ' , as Clement Greenberg termed it?
  • granddaughter: I was the ersatz granddaughter to all âthe girlsâ , I was the only continuation of the line.
  • understanding: The ersatz metal originates, predictably enough, from an ersatz understanding of human freedom.