Fake

Latest answer — August 16, 2026

91 Down

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Clue explained

ERSATZ means an artificial or inferior substitute, so it can mean “fake.” The word is borrowed from German and is commonly used in English as an adjective or noun.

Clue type:
Definition
An imitation product displayed beside a genuine-looking counterpart.

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Sunday, August 16, 2026 appearance

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  1. 84Kid

The answer to “Fake” in the The Washington Post crossword is ERSATZ — a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on August 16, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 91-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Fake” answer

ERSATZ (6 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is ERSATZ.

What does ERSATZ mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of ERSATZ is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(adjective)

  • (of a product) made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else

When else has “Fake” appeared?

The Washington Post reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 16, 2026 (most recent) → ERSATZ. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Fake”?

The answer is ERSATZ, a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on August 16, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Fake”?

6 letters: ERSATZ.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on August 16, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 91-Down.

Can “Fake” have a different answer?

Yes — The Washington Post sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's WaPo Crossword answers?

The full grid for August 16, 2026 is on the WaPo Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Washington Post Crossword is published by The Washington Post; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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