facade

noun

fa·​cade fə-ˈsäd How to pronounce facade (audio)
variants or less commonly façade
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
tried to preserve the facade of a happy marriage

Illustration of facade

Illustration of facade
  • facade 1

Did you know?

A Brief History of Facade

Facade is thought to have come to English from the Vulgar Latin facia, meaning “face.” Along the way it passed through both Italian, as faccia, and French, as façade. The earliest meaning of the word in English was in reference to the front portion of a building, its “face,” so to speak (and face itself is sometimes used to describe this part of a structure as well). Somewhere along the way facade took on a figurative sense, referring to a way of behaving or appearing that gives other people a false idea of your true feelings or situation. This is similar to the figurative use of veneer, which originally had the simple meaning of a thin layer of wood that was used to cover something, and now may also refer to a sort of deceptive behavior that masks one’s actual feelings (as in, “he had a thin veneer of politeness”).

Examples of facade in a Sentence

"I mean, don't you find yourself being extra careful about what you say and how you say it? As if you have to be this phony, put on a facade, because you don't want to give them the wrong impression?" Terry McMillan, Waiting to Exhale, 1992
When I watched him in motion picture roles after the war, I knew there was something of honest substance behind that acting façade. Andrew A. Rooney, And More by Andy Rooney, (1979) 1982
… but his magic power of concentration was gone. All the façades he built up between himself and his desperate love never entirely hid it. May Sarton, Shadow of a Man, 1950
the facade of the bank the windowless façade of the skyscraper They were trying to preserve the facade of a happy marriage. I could sense the hostility lurking behind her polite facade.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For the past two years, a prototype facade has been in use on a greenhouse in the University of Freiburg's Botanical Garden, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Ben Coxworth may 23, New Atlas, 23 May 2025 When a simple mistake turns into a fatal error for one of his patients, Sam tries to bury the truth under a facade of perfection, knowing that a lifetime of deceit is about to be exposed. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 22 May 2025 The black marble facade has been in place ever since, and now includes an unusual oval vitrine displaying eight emblems. Kathleen Beckett, New York Times, 20 May 2025 Now, a new book, Murder in the Dollhouse by Rich Cohen, peels back the sparkling facade of the Dulos's life to unearth the origins and motivations of a crime that became a national obsession. Lizz Schumer, People.com, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for facade

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French fassade, borrowed from Italian facciata, from faccia "face" (going back to Vulgar Latin *facia) + -ata -ade — more at face entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of facade was circa 1656

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Facade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/facade. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

facade

noun
fa·​cade
variants also façade
1
: the face or front of a building
2
: a false or misleading appearance
a facade of wealth

More from Merriam-Webster on facade

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