noun
laughable affair; unreliable thing; sham
Refers to something that is not genuine, trustworthy, or praiseworthy; often used for a situation or matter that is ridiculous or unreliable. The word is rare and somewhat literary.
彼の言い訳はまったくのえせごとだった。
His excuse was a complete sham.
そんなえせごとに付き合っている暇はない。
I don't have time to deal with such a laughable affair.
偽物 means 'fake' or 'counterfeit' object, whereas 似非事 refers to an unreliable or ridiculous situation or affair.
Compound of 似非 (ese, 'sham') and 事 (koto, 'thing, matter'), with rendaku voicing of koto to goto. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is formed from elements meaning 'false matter'.