Phony

/ˈfoʊni/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A person who is not genuine; a fraud or impostor.

He acted like a real phony, pretending to be someone he was not.

Something that is not real or authentic; a counterfeit.

The art dealer was caught selling phony paintings as the work of a famous artist.

adjective

Not genuine; fraudulent or fake.

He was exposed as a phony after it was revealed that his credentials were fabricated.

Intended to deceive, especially by pretending to be someone else.

Her phony smile did little to disguise her true feelings of dissatisfaction.

Having a false or misleading appearance.

The phony advertisement promised results that were too good to be true.

The word 'phony' originated in the late 19th century, possibly from the word 'fone' or from the term 'phone,' meaning a trick or deception.

phony baloney

Something that is fake or insincere.

put on a phony front

To present a false image or attitude.

counterfeit

An imitation intended to be passed off as genuine.

imposter

A person who pretends to be someone else to deceive others.

A person who is not being genuine.

Everyone knows he's just a phony.

Something that is not true or real.

That excuse was so phony, nobody believed it.