English Explanatory Dictionary

phony

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Fraudulent; fake; having a misleading appearance.
noun
  1. A person who assumes an identity or quality other than their own.
  2. A person who professes beliefs or opinions that they do not hold.
  3. Anything fraudulent or fake.
verb
  1. To fake.

Pronunciation

/ˈfoʊni/ en-us-phoney.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vininn126-phony.wav

Word forms

phony phonier phoniest phoney phonies phonying phonied

Etymology

Of unknown origin. Perhaps an alteration of fawny (“gilt brass ring used by swindlers”) (1781), from Irish fáinne (“ring”).

Synonyms

bogus counterfeit fake faker dissembler pretender bamboozler bouncer bullshitter cheat cheater cogger cony-catcher crammer deceiver deceptor fabricator fabulist falser gabber grifter guiler liar losenger mocker pseudologist rook Scandaroon shammer Spanish athlete swindler swike treacher trickster trucker wernard

Antonyms

authentic genuine

Derived words

Phony War peach phony disease phonily phoniness phony as a three-dollar bill phony-baloney phony disease phonyness phony peach disease Phony Stark phonytail phony up phoney up Phoney War
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