veneer

American  

[vuh-neer] / vəˈnɪər /

noun

veneers plural

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)

veneers, present (3rd person singular) veneered, past participle, past veneering present participle

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

Derived Forms

• veneerer
  noun
• unveneered
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• veneers
  plural

Participles

• veneering
  present
• veneered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• veneer
  simple
• veneers
  simple
• have veneered
  perfect
• has veneered
  perfect
• am veneering
  progressive
• are veneering
  progressive
• is veneering
  progressive
• have been veneering
  perfect progressive
• has been veneering
  perfect progressive

Past

• veneered
  simple
• had veneered
  perfect
• was veneering
  progressive
• were veneering
  progressive
• had been veneering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will veneer
  simple
• will have veneered
  perfect
• will be veneering
  progressive
• will have been veneering
  perfect progressive

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; cf. furnish) + -ung -ing ¹

Explanation

You know how some furniture looks like solid oak or maple until it gets chipped and reveals itself to be nothing more than some cheap particle-board covered with a thin layer of fancy wood? That thin layer is called a veneer. A veneer can be anything that makes something look more elegant or attractive than it is. Originally it was a furniture word, but over time its meaning expanded. If someone smiles at you while making some passive-aggressive remark, like, "Gee, you actually look really nice today," you could say that her inner meanness is showing through her veneer of sweetness.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

veneer veneers veneered veneering

Jolie’s work is bold, and almost imperceptibly so, quietly channeling a part of herself that is entirely removed from the veneer of fame and celebrity.

From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2026

But he gave colleagues at least the veneer of a hearing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

They didn’t do that because they wanted to have the trappings and the veneer of making it look as if it were a real federal case.

From Slate ● Jun. 9, 2026

There’s still a lot on the docket for tomorrow—and a lot of potential tripwires that could shake the veneer of stability that both countries are trying hard to project.

From Barron's ● May 14, 2026

Even today the artist remains a magician whose work can mystify and move us—an embarrassing fact to civilized people, who do not readily relinquish their veneer of rational control.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

The material can also be used on exposed dentine, creating an enamel-like coating that helps reduce tooth sensitivity and improves how restorations, such as fillings or veneers, bond to the tooth surface.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2025

Before undergoing the treatment, performed under local anaesthetic, she said her surgeon told her she would have a sinus lift and a bone graft, along with removing her veneers and having implants put in.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2025

The LED headlights, less blinding in the glare of the afternoon, lit up the grill like high-octane veneers.

From Slate ● Jun. 22, 2025

Over the course of “White Lotus” Season 3, “Sex Education” alumna Wood left an impression on viewers with her performance and her imperfect teeth, which she has publicly embraced amid the growing popularity of veneers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 2025

Whenever we first opened its door at the top of the creaky narrow stairs we smelled the fresh veneers of pine oil and bleach and lemon balm.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Even crime in Orange County has been sensationalized and glamorized, with themes veneered by opulence, secrecy and illusions of suburban perfection.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 5, 2026

These rooms may lack the opulence of the Southwest Chief’s predecessor, the “Super Chief” – whose lavish veneered interiors charmed LA-bound Hollywood stars in the 1940s – but they are quiet and comfortable.

From The Guardian ● Jan. 29, 2020

It was the first house I had ever been in that did not have wardrobes, no three-piece set of veneered chipboard, that leaned precariously as the glue loosened in the dowels.

From The New Yorker ● Jan. 6, 2020

Subaran acknowledges the choice of soapstone countertops and rift-cut oak veneered cabinets was inspired by the kitchen she designed for the 2011 Washington Design House.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 23, 2015

Satisfied, he takes a sealed envelope from the black gym bag on the floor and lays it across the veneered pressboard desk, making sure it’s straight.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

A renovation in 2000 had tried to make the still-open parts of the site more traditionally Moroccan, veneering the concrete with green tile and carved wooden panels.

From New York Times ● Oct. 1, 2019

Saco and his team of highly skilled artisans perform a wide range of museum-quality work, from the simplest cosmetic touch-ups and refinishing to caning, inlay, veneering, upholstery and recreation of missing parts.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 22, 2015

We have one man in veneering and we used to have three.

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2012

At first a supporter of Woodrow Wilson, he grew scornful of the President's caution, eventually warned his readers: "Beneath the veneering of scholarly polish lies the coiled serpent of unscrupulous ambition."

From Time Magazine Archive

For rabbits I wrap the trees with paper or veneering, and for borers I mound the tree up.

From The Apple by Various

Related Words

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