phony

¹pho·ny

adjective \ˈfō-nē\

pho·ni·erpho·ni·est

Definition of PHONY

: 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

Variants of PHONY

pho·ny also pho·ney \ˈfō-nē\

Examples of PHONY

1. <a phony watch with a designer logo>
2. <she always has this phony smile just before she betrays you>

Origin of PHONY

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

First Known Use: 1900

Related to PHONY

Synonyms

bogus, fake, false, forged, inauthentic, counterfeit (also phoney), queer, sham, snide, spurious, unauthentic

Antonyms

authentic, bona fide, genuine, real, unfaked

Related Words

artificial, factitious, imitation, man-made, mimic, mock, simulated, substitute, synthetic; dummy, nonfunctioning, ornamental; cultured, fabricated, manufactured; deceptive, delusive, misleading

Near Antonyms

natural; actual, true, valid

Rhymes with PHONY

bony, coney, crony, pony, stony, tony, Tony, yoni

²phony

noun

plural pho·nies also phoneys

Definition of PHONY

: one that is phony

Variants of PHONY

phony also phoney

Examples of PHONY

1. According to him, politics is full of phonies.
2. I don't think she ever meant to help us. What a phony!

First Known Use of PHONY

1902

Related to PHONY

Synonyms

counterfeit, forgery, hoax, humbug, fake (also phoney), sham

Related Words

copycat, knockoff; copy, facsimile, replica, reproduction; dummy, mock-up; fraud, gaff, imposture, spoof, swindle; simulation, synthetic; bastard, brummagem, duffer, shoddy

Near Antonyms

original

³phony

transitive verb

pho·niedpho·ny·ing

Definition of PHONY

: counterfeit, fake —often used with up <a paper phonied up on the spur of the moment — William Faulkner>

Examples of PHONY

1. <the terrorists were able to move around the country using phonied driver's licenses>

First Known Use of PHONY

circa 1942

Related to PHONY

Synonyms

counterfeit, forge, fake

Related Words

simulate; duplicate, reduplicate, replicate, reproduce; crib, plagiarize; adulterate, doctor, fudge, juggle, manipulate, tamper (with); concoct, cook (up), fabricate, invent