German sub (6)

I think it could be either:

Which length description are you looking for?:

1-4

ersatz

This clue might be a double definition.

'german' is the first definition.
Although both the answer and definition are adjectives, I can't understand how one could define the other.

'sub' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)

(Other definitions for ersatz that I've seen before include "Imitation or substitute, from German" , "Made in imitation, from German" , "'Artificial, not genuine (6)'" , "inferior type" , "Cheap substitute or imitation" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail and The Telegraph.

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