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phoney

[ foh-nee ]

adjective

plural: phoneysphoneyed phoneyingphonier phoniest


phoney

/ ˈfəʊnɪ /

adjective

  1. not genuine; fake
  2. (of a person) insincere or pretentious
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. an insincere or pretentious person
  2. something that is not genuine; a fake
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈphoneyness, noun
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Other Words From

  • phoney·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of phoney1

C20: origin uncertain
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Example Sentences

But Labour branded the levelling-up pledge a "phoney gimmick" that had failed to deliver economic growth.

From BBC

Buying London "consists of phoney conversations, confected drama and lip filler", she said, describing the series as "superficially fun, but ultimately soulless and artificial".

From BBC

It was a Hampden shocker, sure, but the phoney war of friendlies isn't to be taken too seriously, right?

From BBC

Police in Strasbourg said the men would go to their victims' homes, carry out phoney control services and then overcharge for treatment products.

From BBC

The document reveals how US law enforcement infiltrated the alleged plot, setting him up with a phoney hitman, who was actually an undercover agent.

From BBC

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