Main Entry: fa·cade

Variant(s): also fa·çade \fə-ˈsäd\

Function: noun

Etymology: French façade, from Italian facciata, from faccia face, from Vulgar Latin *facia

Date: circa 1681

1 : the front of a building; also : any face of a building given special architectural treatment <a museum's east facade>
2 : a false, superficial, or artificial appearance or effect

[facade illustration]