phony

or pho·ney

[ foh-nee ]

/ ˈfoʊ ni /

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See synonyms for: phony / phonied / phonies / phonying on Thesaurus.com

adjective, pho·ni·er, pho·ni·est.

not real or genuine; fake; counterfeit: a phony diamond.

false or deceiving; not truthful; concocted: a phony explanation.

insincere or deceitful; affected or pretentious: a phony sales representative.

noun, plural pho·nies.

something that is phony; a counterfeit or fake.

an insincere, pretentious, or deceitful person: He thought my friends were a bunch of phonies.

verb (used with object), pho·nied, pho·ny·ing.

to falsify; counterfeit; fabricate (often followed by up): to phony up a document.

OTHER WORDS FOR phony

4 fraud, imitation, hoax.

See synonyms for phony on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of phony

1895–1900; perhaps alteration and respelling of fawney (slang) finger ring (<Irish fsptáinne), if taken to mean “false” in the phrase fawney rig a confidence game in which a brass ring is sold as a gold one

OTHER WORDS FROM phony

pho·ni·ly, adverbpho·ni·ness, noun

Other definitions for phony (2 of 2)

-phony

a combining form used in the formation of abstract nouns corresponding to nouns ending in -phone: telephony.

Origin of -phony

<Greek -phōnia;see -phone, -y³

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use phony in a sentence

Why the low pay and job insecurity that come with “emotional work” is creating a nation full of phonies.
Why Your Waiter Hates You|Jedediah Purdy|October 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was too cynical about politics, and he could spot phonies whichever party they were in.
Jack Germond, a Reporter From Another Time|Eleanor Clift|August 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In a field filled with phonies, Bob Kerrey has always been the real deal.
Bob Kerrey Closes In On Reclaiming His Nebraska Senate Seat|John Avlon|October 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But Chaffetz and these other phonies aren't interested in the truth.
Benghazi: Who Can Take These Hypocrites Seriously?|Michael Tomasky|October 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST

In YA lit, non-white teens still tend to fight racism and violence more than cliques and phonies.
The End of the White Outsider|Ned Vizzini|July 25, 2011|DAILY BEAST
If your idea pays off, Tom, we should be able to checkmate every move those phonies and their allies make!
Tom Swift and The Visitor from Planet X|Victor Appleton
Anyway, I wouldn't blame her, after the exhibition I made the other night, for classin' me with the phonies.
Shorty McCabe|Sewell Ford

British Dictionary definitions for phony (1 of 2)

phony

/ (ˈfəʊnɪ) /

adjective, noun -nier or -niest or plural -nies

a variant spelling (esp US) of phoney

Derived forms of phony

phoniness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for phony (2 of 2)

-phony

n combining form

indicating a specified type of soundcacophony; euphony

Derived forms of -phony

-phonic, adj combining form

Word Origin for -phony

from Greek -phōnia, from phōnē sound

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

phony

or pho·ney

OTHER WORDS FOR phony

Origin of phony

OTHER WORDS FROM phony

Other definitions for phony (2 of 2)

Origin of -phony

Words related to phony

How to use phony in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for phony (1 of 2)

Derived forms of phony

British Dictionary definitions for phony (2 of 2)

Derived forms of -phony

Word Origin for -phony