facade

American  

[fuh-sahd, fa-] / fəˈsɑd, fæ- /

Or façade

noun

1. Architecture.

   1. the front of a building, especially an imposing or decorative one.

   2. any side of a building facing a public way or space and finished accordingly.

2. a superficial appearance or illusion of something.

   They managed somehow to maintain a facade of wealth.

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façade British  

/ fəˈsɑːd, fæ- /

noun

1. the face of a building, esp the main front

2. a front or outer appearance, esp a deceptive one

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Usage

What does facade mean? A facade is the front of a building or a side that faces a public area.Facade is used literally to describe a decorative, showy, or onrate piece of architecture that frames the front of a building, as in The architect who designed this building used a showy facade on it to help it stand out from nearby buildings.A facade is also a superficial appearance or an illusion, which can be literal or figurative. If a movie star wears a dark hoodie and sunglasses so they won’t be recognized by the press, they are wearing a literal facade. If that movie star acts completely different from who they actually are or puts on an alternate personality in order to trick or convince people of something, that is a figurative facade.Example: He continually lied to keep up his facade until the whole thing stumbled out of control.

Etymology

Origin of facade

First recorded in 1650–60; from French, from Upper Italian faciada, Italian facciata, equivalent to facci(a) face + -ata -ade ¹

Example Sentences

“Brats” is very much so “about the public facade of friendship,” notes McCarthy.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

The structure collapse with only part of the facade left standing.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Only the facade of the building on Gordon Street was left standing, as well as a floating chimney stack which was gradually taken apart last week.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

The front door’s shock of color, which makes for such a contrast with the white facade, finds its way inside.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

The school had a colonial facade with a graceful cupola on its roof.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy