Definition
Phony means fake, false or fraudulent, and lacking in authenticity or sincerity.
Pronunciation
US English
UK English
Part of Speech
Phony is an adjective.
Synonyms
Fake, false, fraudulent, bogus, artificial, insincere.
Antonyms
Genuine, real, authentic, sincere, honest.
Word Forms
| Part of Speech | Words |
|---|---|
| Noun | phonies, phony |
| Verb | None |
| Adjective | phony |
| Adverb | None |
Example Sentences
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She made a phony excuse for not attending the meeting.
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His phony credentials were exposed when his background check was conducted.
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The counterfeit money was detected because of the phony security features.
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He put on a phony smile to hide his true feelings.
Usage
The word “phony” is used to describe things that are fake, false, or fraudulent. It is commonly used to describe people or objects that appear to be genuine, but are actually not. The term can also be used to describe actions or statements that lack sincerity or authenticity.
The word “phony” is derived from the word “phoney,” which is slang for counterfeit or fake. It is typically used in informal or colloquial language, and is often used in a negative or critical sense.
There are several variations of the word “phony” that have slightly different meanings or connotations. For example, the word “fake” is often used to describe things that are not genuine or authentic, while “fraudulent” is used to describe things that are intended to deceive or mislead.
The prefix “pseudo-” can be added to the beginning of the word “phony” to create “pseudophony,” which is used to describe things that appear to be authentic, but are actually fake or false. The suffix “-ish” can also be added to create “phonyish,” which is used to describe things that have the appearance of being genuine, but lack authenticity.
In summary, “phony” is an adjective used to describe things that are fake, false or fraudulent. It is typically used in informal or colloquial language, and has a negative or critical connotation. There are several variations of the word “phony” that have slightly different meanings or connotations, including “pseudophony” and “phonyish.”