Ersatz

Ersatz is a loanword from German meaning replacement or substitute. In English, it denotes a product or thing that substitutes for a genuine article, often with the implication of inferior quality or authenticity.

The word derives from the German noun Ersatz, from the verb ersetzen meaning “to replace.” In English usage, ersatz frequently signals a cheaper or less authentic stand-in rather than a true replacement, and it can carry a pejorative tone when describing goods, materials, or experiences.

Common contexts include foods and beverages such as ersatz coffee, ersatz tea, or ersatz chocolate, and materials such as ersatz leather or ersatz rubber. It is also used metaphorically to describe imitative art, culture, or experiences—things that pretend to be genuine but fall short of the real article.

The term often carries a negative connotation, implying counterfeit or substandard quality. However, it can be used descriptively or even playfully in fashion, design, or satire when a cheaper substitute is intentional or part of a deliberate aesthetic.

In German, the related term Ersatzteile refers to spare parts. In English, ersatz appears most often as a noun or adjective to describe substitutes or imitations in various domains. See also: counterfeit, imitation, substitute.