pseudo

[ soo-doh ]

/ ˈsu doʊ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pseudo ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not actually but having the appearance of; pretended; false or spurious; sham.

almost, approaching, or trying to be.

Nearby words

pseudaxis, pseudepigrapha, pseudepigraphy, pseudesthesia, pseudisodomic, pseudo, pseudo force, pseudo-, pseudo-ainhum, pseudo-cleft sentence, pseudo-code

Origin of pseudo

First recorded in 1940–45; independent use of pseudo-

Definition for pseudo (2 of 2)

pseudo-

a combining form meaning “false,” “pretended,” “unreal,” used in the formation of compound words (pseudoclassic; pseudointellectual): in scientific use, denoting close or deceptive resemblance to the following element (pseudobulb; pseudocarp), and used sometimes in chemical names of isomers (pseudoephedrine).

Also especially before a vowel, pseud-.

Origin of pseudo-

< Greek, combining form of pseudḗs false, pseûdos falsehood

Can be confusedpseudo- quasi-

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pseudo

The office is standard Universal issue, sort of a pseudo English manor house.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He lived in the Pseudo office, where his downstairs neighbors included Jeff Koons.
A ‘Truman Show’ For Today: The Return of Josh Harris|Anthony Haden-Guest|July 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was busted but far from bust, and by February Pseudo had 10 channels.
A ‘Truman Show’ For Today: The Return of Josh Harris|Anthony Haden-Guest|July 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This unholy marriage of faux country and pseudo hip-hop is literally the worst of both worlds.
You Can't Unsee Billy Ray Cyrus’s Pseudo Hip Hop ‘Achy Breaky 2’|Amy Zimmerman|February 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The international community is unlikely to be impressed by a show of pseudo tolerance performed by a fake lesbian duo.
Yes, the Pseudo-lesbian Band t.A.T.u. Sang at Sochi’s Opening Ceremony|Amy Zimmerman|February 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While he was putting up the shutters, Phoebe was making love to her pseudo penitent.
A Simpleton|Charles Reade
“Down with him, then,” and we headed the Provisional list with the pseudo Orange-tawny.
Tales from "Blackwood"|Various
In the mornings when the pseudo prince left the bedroom, outside the door stood Herr Volkmar, cap in hand, bowing.
Historic Oddities|Sabine Baring-Gould
But Chatterton wrote poems, pseudo chronicles, and not history.
The Life of Joan of Arc, Vol. 1 and 2 (of 2)|Anatole France
They threw it out when they wanted to misunderstand me—with a good deal of the pseudo in it, too.
The Note-Books of Samuel Butler|Samuel Butler

British Dictionary definitions for pseudo (1 of 2)

pseudo

/ (ˈsjuːdəʊ) /

adjective

informal not genuine; pretended

British Dictionary definitions for pseudo (2 of 2)

pseudo-

sometimes before a vowel pseud-

combining form

false, pretending, or unauthenticpseudo-intellectual

having a close resemblance topseudopodium

Word Origin for pseudo-

from Greek pseudēs false, from pseudein to lie

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

Word Origin and History for pseudo (1 of 2)

pseudo

late 14c., "false or spurious thing;" see pseudo-. As an adjective in this sense from mid-15c. In modern use, of persons, "pretentious, insincere," from 1945; as a noun from 1959. Related: Pseudish.

Word Origin and History for pseudo (1 of 2)

pseudo-

often before vowels pseud-, word-forming element meaning "false; feigned; erroneous; in appearance only; resembling," from Greek pseudo-, comb. form of pseudes "false, lying; falsely; deceived," or pseudos "falsehood, untruth, a lie," both from pseudein "to deceive, cheat by lies."

Productive in compound formation in ancient Greek (e.g. pseudodidaskalos "false teacher," pseudokyon "a sham cynic," pseudologia "a false speech," pseudoparthenos "pretended virgin"), it began to be used with native words in Middle English.

pseudo

adjective

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of pseudo

Definition for pseudo (2 of 2)

pseudo-

Origin of pseudo-

Examples from the Web for pseudo

British Dictionary definitions for pseudo (1 of 2)

pseudo

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for pseudo (2 of 2)

pseudo-

sometimes before a vowel pseud-

combining form

Word Origin for pseudo-

Word Origin and History for pseudo (1 of 2)

pseudo

Word Origin and History for pseudo (1 of 2)

pseudo-

Medicine definitions for pseudo

pseudo-

pref.