Phony

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -əʊni

Alternative forms

• phoney

Origin

Perhaps an alteration of fawney “gilt brass ring used by swindlers” (), from Irish fáinne ("ring").

Full definition of phony

Adjective

1. Fraudulent; fake; having a misleading appearance.A good jeweler should be able to tell a real stone from a phony one.

Synonyms

• (fraudulent) bogus, counterfeit, fake

Antonyms

• authentic
• genuine

Derived terms

• phoniness
• phoneyness

Noun

1. A person who assumes an identity or quality other than their own.1902He claims to be a doctor, but he's nothing but a fast-talking phony.
2. A person who professes beliefs or opinions that they do not hold.1902He's such a phony, he doesn't believe half of what he says.

Synonyms

• (faker) dissembler, pretender, fake, faker

Derived terms

• phony up, phoney up
• Phony War, Phoney War