deepfake
/ˈdiːpfeɪk/
CommonAI-generated video or audio that realistically depicts someone saying or doing something they never did.
Originally a neutral technical term. Now mostly used with concern or alarm. Also used loosely for any convincing AI-generated media, not just video.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | that's a deepfake. look at the mouth, it doesn't match | The video is AI-generated and has visible artifacts that reveal its inauthenticity. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | people shared this deepfake of the politician for like 3 days before anyone caught it | A synthetic video spread widely before being identified as AI-generated. | reddit, 2024 |
| 03 | deepfake technology has gotten so good i don't trust any video i see anymore | The quality of AI-generated video has made it hard to trust any footage online. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 04 | she's suing because someone made a deepfake of her and posted it everywhere | Non-consensual synthetic content of a real person was created and distributed. | x, 2024 |
Use it when
- Describing AI-generated video or audio designed to look real.
- Warning that a viral video may not be authentic.
- Discussing the technology used to create synthetic media.
- Referring to non-consensual synthetic content of real people.
Do not use it when
- Any edited or filtered video. A face swap filter is not a deepfake unless it is realistic and designed to deceive.Use “cheapfake” instead.
Deepfake vs cheapfake
deepfake
Deepfake uses sophisticated AI to generate realistic synthetic media. High effort, hard to detect.
VS
cheapfake
Cheapfake uses simple edits like slowing video, cropping, or basic photo manipulation. Low effort, low tech.
Origin and context
Coined on Reddit in 2017 by a user who combined 'deep learning' and 'fake' to describe AI-generated face-swap videos. The term spread quickly as the technology became more accessible.
- First seen
- 2017
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/deepfakeUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0