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phonyMain Entry: 1pho·ny Variant(s): also pho·ney \ˈfō-nē\ Function: adjective Inflected Form(s): pho·ni·er; pho·ni·est Etymology: perhaps alteration of fawney gilded brass ring used in the fawney rig, a confidence game, from Irish fáinne ring, from Old Irish ánne — more at anus Date: 1900 : not genuine or real: as a (1) : intended to deceive or mislead (2) : intended to defraud : counterfeit b : arousing suspicion : probably dishonest <something phony about the story> c : having no basis in fact : fictitious <phony publicity stories> d : false, sham <a phony name> e : making a false show: as (1) : hypocritical (2) : specious <has a phony poetic elegance — New Republic> — pho·ni·ly \ˈfō-ni-lē\ adverb — pho·ni·ness \ˈfō-nē-nəs\ noun
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