phony Definition
☆ phony (fō′nē)
adjective -·nier, -·ni·est
Informal not genuine; false, counterfeit, spurious, pretentious, etc.
Etymology: altered < Brit thieves' argot fawney, gilt ring (passed off as gold by swindlers) < Ir fáinne
noun pl. -·nies
- something not genuine; sham; fake
- a person who is not what he or she pretends to be; one who deceives, dissembles, is insincere, etc.; fraud
phony Related Forms
pho′·ni·ness noun
phony Synonyms
phony Synonyms
phony Usage Examples
Adjective modifier
- big: We, the biggest phonies in the business, love sincerity.
- unchallenged: David Webb, for example, says: " An unchallenged phony is a potential not an actual source of equity loss.
- fat: Personally I think it's Heston and not Moore who is the big fat phony.
Modifies a noun
- plansgeorgetown: Pursue phony plansgeorgetown we group quot long term health care insurance florida model is an.
- war: These complexities account for the feeling of " phony war " this week.
- insurance: From actual benefits expected or minimum phony insurance collect.
- health: Decline in medicaid lowered medicaid use from the three of phony health.
- target: Pursue phony plansgeorgetown target and comparison the federal poverty be able to.
- name: A wonderfully phony name - sounds like a Sixties heartthrob pop singer.
Modifying Another Word
totally: Obviously that's a totally phony account: The man invented the whole story.
Used with adjective complement
seem: TODHUNTER has an air of cool that seems slightly phony.
Browse dictionary entries near phony
- ‹ phonotype
- ‹ phonoscope
- ‹ phonon
- ‹ phonometer
- ‹ phonology
- ‹ phonolite
- ‹ phonography
- ‹ phonographic
- ‹ phonograph
- ‹ phonogram
- -phony ›
- phooey ›
- -phore ›
- phoronid ›
- -phorous ›
- phosgene ›
- phosph- ›
- phosphatase ›
- phosphate ›
- phosphate rock ›

