Phoney: meaning, definitions and examples

The word 'phoney' originated in the late 19th century in American English, derived from the British English 'fawney' meaning a gilded brass ring used to deceive. Over time, 'phoney' came to mean something fake or counterfeit, both in terms of objects and people. The term has since become widely used in informal contexts to describe something or someone that is not genuine or real.

See also: phone, phoneme, phonemic, phoner, phonetics, phonically, smartphone, telephone, telephonist.

This word's position of #32,116 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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