Phoney

Definitions of phoney

adjective not genuine or real; fake or false

Example Sentences

A1 I don't trust that phoney salesman.

A2 She always wears phoney designer clothes.

B1 The website was full of phoney reviews.

B2 He put on a phoney smile to hide his true feelings.

C1 The politician's promises seemed phoney to the public.

C2 The artist was accused of creating phoney masterpieces to sell for profit.

Examples of phoney in a Sentence

formal The investigator uncovered evidence of a phoney company operating under false pretenses.

informal I can't trust him, he seems so phoney whenever he speaks.

slang She's always putting on that phoney act to impress others.

figurative His smile looked phoney, like it was painted on his face.

Grammatical Forms of phoney

• past tense: phoneyed
• plural: phoneys
• comparative: phonier
• superlative: phoniest
• present tense: phoney
• future tense: will phoney
• perfect tense: have phoneyed
• continuous tense: is phoneying
• singular: phoney
• positive degree: phoney
• infinitive: to phoney
• gerund: phoneying
• participle: phoneyed

Origin and Evolution of phoney

First Known Use: 1679 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'phoney' originated from the British slang term 'fawney' which referred to a gilded brass ring or trinket. It was later used to describe something that is fake or counterfeit.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'phoney' evolved to encompass anything that is not genuine or authentic, including people who pretend to be something they are not. It is commonly used to describe objects, actions, or individuals that are deceptive or insincere.