faux

adjective

ˈfō 

: not real or genuine: such as

a

: made to look like something else that is usually more valuable : imitation, fake

faux leather/fur

a string of faux pearls

… faux is the French word for fake, but it's a very chic fake. Faux marble, for example, is found in the best of homes.

—Sylvia Sachs

b

: not sincere

a show of faux [=feigned] concern

On Monday the CEO dusted off a version of the "I'm sorry if I offended you" faux apology used when people really mean, "I'm sorry I got caught."

—The East Bay (California) Times

Synonyms

• artificial
• bogus
• dummy
• ersatz
• factitious
• fake
• false
• imitation
• imitative
• man-made
• mimic
• mock
• pretend
• sham
• simulated
• substitute
• synthetic

Examples of faux in a Sentence

even the celebrity interior designer was fooled by the faux marble

Recent Examples on the Web

Push your chairs and couches together to create a faux sectional look. —Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2025

And while both traditional and faux leather-making processes involve chemicals, PVC can release pollutants and toxic chemicals. —Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 26 Apr. 2025

Similarly, the most adventurous of women have been noted heading to the salon requesting similar, looser perms for a wavy beach look (or a faux natural curly look). —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2025

Byrne notes that the much more eco-friendly use of faux, or vegan, leather has coincided with the rise of faux fur. —Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, false

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing faux

• faux hawk
• faux-naïf
• faux-naif
• faux pas

Rhymes for faux

• beau
• beaux
• blow
• boe
• bro
• coe
• crow
• doe
• doh
• dough
• eau
• eaux

Kids Definition

faux

adjective

ˈfō 

: imitation entry 2

faux marble

Etymology

from French, "false," from Latin falsus