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Definition of Phony
1. Noun. A person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives.
Generic synonyms: Beguiler, Cheat, Cheater, Deceiver, Slicker, Trickster
Specialized synonyms: Charmer, Smoothie, Smoothy, Sweet Talker, Tartufe, Tartuffe, Whited Sepulcher, Whited Sepulchre
Derivative terms: Dissemble, Phoney
2. Adjective. Fraudulent; having a misleading appearance.
Similar to: Counterfeit, Imitative
Derivative terms: Bastard, Fake, Phoney
Definition of Phony
1. Adjective. Fraudulent; fake; having a misleading appearance. ¹
2. Noun. A faker, a person who professes beliefs or opinions that they do not hold or assumes an identity other than their own. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Phony
1. not genuine or real [adj -NIER, -NIEST] / to alter so as to make appear genuine [v -NIED, -NYING, -NIES]
Lexicographical Neighbors of Phony
Literary usage of Phony
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage by Inc. Merriam-Webster (1994)
"phony is an Americanism of obscure origin first attested in print in 1900. ...
Supplement II (1948) suggests that phony is a legacy of the pitchmen who used ..."
2. Researches on the Performace of the Screw Propeller by William Frederick Durand (1907)
"... phony BRAKE FOR CALIBRATION OF TRANSMISSION DYNAMOMETER. of the shaft, and
with its upper edge in direct line with that axis. A heavy fish-line was used ..."
3. Retrospect of Philosophical, Mechanical, Chemical, and Agricultural Discoveries (1806)
"~By M. phony.—Mem. Inst. Nat. THIS species of motion, though it has sometimes
been classed with the foregoing, yet differs so materially from it in its ..."
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