veneer

American  

[vuh-neer] / vəˈnɪər /

noun

1. a thin layer of wood or other material for facing or inlaying wood.

2. any of the thin layers of wood glued together to form plywood.

3. Building Trades. a facing of a certain material applied to a different one or to a type of construction not ordinarily associated with it, as a facing of brick applied to a frame house.

4. a superficially valuable or pleasing appearance.

   a cruel person with a veneer of kindliness.

   Synonyms:

   guise, mask, show, front, facade

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verb (used with object)

1. to overlay or face (wood) with thin sheets of some material, as a fine wood, ivory, or tortoise shell.

2. to face or cover (an object) with any material that is more desirable as a surface material than the basic material of the object; revet.

3. to cement (layers of wood veneer) to form plywood.

4. to give a superficially valuable or pleasing appearance to.

veneer British  

/ vɪˈnɪə /

noun

1. a thin layer of wood, plastic, etc, with a decorative or fine finish that is bonded to the surface of a less expensive material, usually wood

2. a superficial appearance, esp one that is pleasing

   a veneer of gentility

3. any facing material that is applied to a different backing material

4. any one of the layers of wood that is used to form plywood

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verb

1. to cover (a surface) with a veneer

2. to bond together (thin layers of wood) to make plywood

3. to conceal (something) under a superficially pleasant surface

Other Word Forms

• unveneered adjective
• veneerer noun

Etymology

Origin of veneer

First recorded in 1695–1705; earlier fineering, faneering, from German Fourni(e)rung, Furni(e)rung (from furni(e)ren “to furnish,” from French fournir; furnish ) + -ung -ing ¹

Example Sentences

I prefer transactions with no veneer of bonhomie or friendship, no wine bottle on the kitchen counter with a note: “We hope you enjoy the place as much as we do.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

According to critics, this symbiosis creates a scientific veneer for state violence, allowing law enforcement to brand old tactics of containment and harassment as “precise” and “data-driven.”

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

Beneath the pretty veneer of Knysna - which is also retirement haven for more affluent South Africans - its water system is on the brink of collapse.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2026

Instead, he seems as if he’s trying to lacquer on a veneer of righteousness to some very nasty business.

From Slate • Nov. 20, 2025

They had to hide their desires behind a veneer of respectability.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

Related Words

• coating
• exterior
• facade
• gloss
• layer
• mask
• semblance