veneer

American  

[vuh-neer] / vəˈnɪər /

noun

1. a thin layer of wood or other material for facing or inlaying wood.

2. any of the thin layers of wood glued together to form plywood.

3. Building Trades. a facing of a certain material applied to a different one or to a type of construction not ordinarily associated with it, as a facing of brick applied to a frame house.

4. a superficially valuable or pleasing appearance.

   a cruel person with a veneer of kindliness.

   Synonyms:

   guise, mask, show, front, facade

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verb (used with object)

1. to overlay or face (wood) with thin sheets of some material, as a fine wood, ivory, or tortoise shell.

2. to face or cover (an object) with any material that is more desirable as a surface material than the basic material of the object; revet.

3. to cement (layers of wood veneer) to form plywood.

4. to give a superficially valuable or pleasing appearance to.

veneer British  

/ vɪˈnɪə /

noun

1. a thin layer of wood, plastic, etc, with a decorative or fine finish that is bonded to the surface of a less expensive material, usually wood

2. a superficial appearance, esp one that is pleasing

   a veneer of gentility

3. any facing material that is applied to a different backing material

4. any one of the layers of wood that is used to form plywood

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verb

1. to cover (a surface) with a veneer

2. to bond together (thin layers of wood) to make plywood

3. to conceal (something) under a superficially pleasant surface

Other Word Forms

• unveneered adjective
• veneerer noun

Etymology

Origin of veneer

First recorded in 1695–1705; earlier fineering, faneering, from German Fourni(e)rung, Furni(e)rung (from furni(e)ren “to furnish,” from French fournir; furnish ) + -ung -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Beneath her veneer of regal dignity Ms. Faridany reveals the character’s icy heart.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

According to critics, this symbiosis creates a scientific veneer for state violence, allowing law enforcement to brand old tactics of containment and harassment as “precise” and “data-driven.”

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

They come with this veneer of society’s expectations and all of these things.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2026

The AI tool recently reached 800 million weekly active users, according to boss Sam Altman, and Houser believes some people are becoming dependent on the technology's affirming "human veneer".

From BBC • Dec. 13, 2025

The moment we walked out of the classroom, his cocksure veneer, the spit and polish, would return.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

Related Words

• coating
• exterior
• facade
• gloss
• layer
• mask
• semblance