plural shams
1
a
: something that is not what it appears to be and that is meant to trick or deceive people
He claims that the trial was a sham.
Their marriage was a sham.
b
: someone who deceives people by pretending to be a particular kind of person, to have a particular skill, etc.
Many people believed he could help them, but I knew he was a sham.
2
: words or actions that are not sincere or honest
She exposed their sham and hypocrisy.
always used before a noun
shams; shammed; shamming
: to act in a way that is meant to trick or deceive people
She wasn't really hurt; she was only shamming.
He was shamming illness to avoid work.
Cite this Entry
“Sham.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/sham. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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