sham Hear it!

sham definition

sham (s̸ham)

noun

  1. Obsolete a trick or fraud
    1. an imitation that is meant to deceive; counterfeit
    2. a hypocritical action, deceptive appearance, etc.
  3. a person who is not what he or she pretends to be; fraud; impostor
  4. ☆ pillow sham

Etymology: prob. < N Eng dial. var. of shame

adjective

not genuine or real; false, counterfeit, pretended, etc.

transitive verb shammed, shamming sham′·ming

to be or make an imitation or false show of; counterfeit

intransitive verb

to pretend to be what one is not

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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