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Phoney Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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phoney

[ˈfəʊni ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

informal

Not genuine or real; fake or counterfeit.

Synonyms

bogus, counterfeit, fake, false, fraudulent.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
phoney

Used to describe something or someone that is not genuine but tries to appear so, often in social contexts.

  • He's such a phoney; he pretends to be rich, but he's actually broke.
  • The phoney accent she used fooled no one.
fake

A general term for anything made to look real but isn't. Can be used in various situations including social contexts, goods, and even emotions.

  • He gave me a fake phone number.
  • The watch he's wearing is fake.
false

Often used to describe statements or information that are incorrect or intended to deceive. Can also refer to artificial objects.

  • The rumor about him quitting was false.
  • She was wearing false eyelashes.
counterfeit

Primarily used to describe fake money, goods, or documents made to deceive people. Usually in legal or commercial settings.

  • She was arrested for using counterfeit money.
  • The market was flooded with counterfeit designer bags.
bogus

Commonly used to describe something that is fake or fraudulent, particularly when referring to documents or claims.

  • The police found a bogus passport during the raid.
  • His claim of winning the lottery turned out to be bogus.
fraudulent

Primarily used in legal or financial terms to describe deliberate deception, usually involving some form of fraud. This term has a strong negative connotation.

  • He was convicted for his fraudulent business practices.
  • The fraudulent scheme cost investors millions of dollars.

Examples of usage

  • The designer handbag she bought turned out to be phoney.
  • His phoney smile fooled no one.
Context #2 | Noun

informal

A fraudulent person or thing.

Synonyms

charlatan, deceiver, fake, fraud, imposter.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
phoney

Used to describe someone or something that is not real or genuine, often in a negative sense.

  • She smiled a phoney smile, trying to hide her true feelings.
  • His phoney compliments made everyone uncomfortable.
imposter

Used to describe a person who pretends to be someone else, typically to deceive others, negative in tone.

  • The imposter posed as a famous scientist to gain access to the conference.
  • It turned out that he was an imposter with a fake identity.
fraud

Indicates someone who commits deceit with the objective of financial or personal gain, strongly negative.

  • The company executive was charged with fraud.
  • She felt betrayed after discovering his entire business was a fraud.
charlatan

Applied to a person who falsely claims to have special knowledge or skills, usually in a negative or deceptive way.

  • The self-proclaimed 'doctor' was exposed as a charlatan.
  • People believed in the charlatan's promises of miracle cures.
deceiver

Refers to someone who lies or tricks others to gain an advantage, carrying a strong negative connotation.

  • He was known as a deceiver who couldn't be trusted.
  • The deceiver's actions caused a lot of pain and confusion.
fake

Used for objects that are not authentic, or for people who pretend to be someone they are not; generally carries a negative implication.

  • That handbag is a fake; the real ones don't look like that.
  • He turned out to be a fake friend, only around for his own benefit.

Examples of usage

  • He was exposed as a phoney who had been lying about his qualifications.
  • The company turned out to be a phoney, scamming people out of their money.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'phoney'

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.

Word Frequency Rank

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.