ersatz
pronunciation
How to pronounce ersatz in British English:
UK [ˈeəzæts]
How to pronounce ersatz in American English:
US [ˈersɑts]
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- Noun:
- an artificial or inferior substitute or imitation
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- Adjective:
- artificial and inferior
Word Origin
- ersatz (adj.)
- 1875, from German Ersatz "units of the army reserve," literally "compensation, replacement, substitute," from ersetzen "to replace," from Old High German irsezzen, from ir-, unaccented variant of ur- (see ur-) + setzen "to set" (see set (v.)). As a noun, from 1892.
Example
- 1. To cacioppo , internet communication allows only ersatz intimacy .
- 2. Instead of first-hand experiences and real interation , they have ersatz experiences on screens .
- 3. There is a flourishing trade in ersatz ginseng .
- 4. If wi-fi were widespread , I could use an ipod touch as an ersatz cellphone .
- 5. American developers have been encouraged to build flats around tram stations ; british limits on urban sprawl have led to the creation of ersatz villages .