phony
adjective
not real or genuine; fake; counterfeit.
phonies
-
pluralof phony.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
With no up-front costs for attempting to enroll, phonies threw thousands of identities at the system’s 116 schools, which were technologically unprepared for the assaults.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 7, 2026
Soft know-it-alls from the city and phonies of any stripe receive rough treatment in his shows, such as the llama farmer from California who gets thrown under a Montana cattle guard in “Yellowstone.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2025
Mr. Musk trashed Mr. Zuckerberg’s Instagram as a dwelling for fakers and phonies in a Wednesday evening post to Twitter.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 6, 2023
The few who object are marked as fools, phonies or outright villains.
From New York Times ● Feb. 23, 2022
One of the biggest reasons I left Elkton Hills was because I was surrounded by phonies.
From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger
