A charlatan is someone who pretends to have skills, knowledge, or abilities they don't actually possess, usually to trick people and take their money. The word carries a sense of deliberate fraud: a charlatan knows they're faking it.

History is full of charlatans selling fake miracle cures, claiming they could turn metal into gold, or pretending to talk to spirits. A famous example: in the 1800s, traveling salesmen called snake oil salesmen toured American towns selling bottles of worthless liquid they claimed could cure any illness. These charlatans would put on elaborate shows, hire people to pretend the medicine worked, then leave town with everyone's money before anyone realized they'd been fooled.

Today you might encounter charlatans online, claiming they have a secret method to get rich quick or a miracle diet that requires no effort. What makes someone a charlatan is knowing you're deceiving people while pretending confidence and expertise. Being wrong or mistaken doesn't make you a charlatan, but deliberately tricking people does.

A charlatan differs from someone who's simply mistaken or incompetent: a charlatan deliberately deceives, often with showmanship and false confidence that makes their claims seem believable.