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Origin of sham

First recorded in 1670–80; perhaps an alteration of shame; origin uncertain

synonym study for sham

4. See false.

OTHER WORDS FROM sham

un·shammed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sham in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sham

sham
/ (ÊƒĂŠm) /

noun
anything that is not what it purports or appears to be
something false, fake, or fictitious that purports to be genuine
a person who pretends to be something other than he is
adjective
counterfeit or false; simulated
verb shams, shamming or shammed
to falsely assume the appearance of (something); counterfeitto sham illness

Derived forms of sham

shammer, noun

Word Origin for sham

C17: perhaps a Northern English dialect variant of shame
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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