From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcharlatanchar‧la‧tan /ˈʃɑːlətən $ ˈʃɑːr-/ noun [countable] literary PRETENDsomeone who pretends to have special skills or knowledge – used to show disapproval
Examples from the Corpus
charlatan• Charlatans advertise a variety of fat-reducing treatments in the back of magazines.• Some people said that he was one of the greatest philosophers who ever lived; others claimed he was a charlatan.• Exploitation by charlatans played a part, as did certain traditional beliefs.• This is truly an important book that should bury the image of the Cadillacdriving charlatan for ever.• No. She isn't a miracle worker. She isn't even a doctor. She's a complete charlatan.• Time is a great charlatan, not a great healer, as has been remarked.• My inquiries reveal that most of these are caused by exercise programmes devised by ignorant charlatans feeding off our need for health.• Naturopathic medicine became considered the province of charlatans and primitives.• Some psychic charlatan convinced her she was going to die in six months.• A vivid portrait of a successful charlatan exploiting the second-century Christians is given by Lucian in his Peregrinus.• The lack of anonymity meant that charlatans and tricksters could rarely get away with their deceptions for long.• I think the voters will see him as the charlatan he really is. 