phoney

American  

[foh-nee] / ˈfoʊ ni /

adjective

phonier, phoniest,

plural

phoneys, phoneyed, phoneying

1. phony.

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phoney British  

/ ˈfəʊnɪ /

adjective

1. not genuine; fake

2. (of a person) insincere or pretentious

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noun

1. an insincere or pretentious person

2. something that is not genuine; a fake

Other Word Forms

• phoneyness noun

Etymology

Origin of phoney

C20: origin uncertain

Example Sentences

For years, phoney modelling agencies have been taking cash from young people desperate for a leg up into the industry, charging hundreds for fake portfolios and jobs that never materialise.

From BBC

It does not feel like that level of claustrophobia will be part of this week, but the fans on the practice days have been good-naturedly engaging in the 'phoney war'.

From BBC

Now, though, we enter the phoney war; four long weeks of build-up that will see both teams gain competitive reps on either side of the Atlantic.

From BBC

Antoni, who has a PhD in economics, has previously criticised the BLS, questioning its methodology and calling its statistics "phoney baloney".

From BBC

For crofters, the war led to a public inquiry and eventually legislation that protected their land rights - and hopefully any chance of ever being scammed by phoney lady novelists again.

From BBC