phoney Meaning & Definition
What Does Phoney Mean?
As an adjective, phoney means not genuine or real. It can also mean intended to deceive or mislead. As a noun, it means one that is phony.
Word Facts for Phoney
| Part of speech | adjective, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈfō-nē/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | counterfeit, phony and fake |
| Antonyms | authentic, bona fide and genuine |
| Plural | phoneys |
| Comparative / superlative | phonier, phoniest |
| Adverb | phonily |
Phoney Definition (Adjective)
- not genuine or real: such as
- intended to deceive or mislead
- intended to defraud : counterfeit
- arousing suspicion : probably dishonest
something phony about the story
- having no basis in fact : fictitious
phony publicity stories
- false, sham
a phony name
- making a false show: such as
- hypocritical
- specious
… has a phony poetic elegance …
Phoney as a Noun
- one that is phony
Synonyms of Phoney
Antonyms of Phoney
Phoney in a Sentence
He claims to be a doctor, but he's nothing but a fast-talking phony.
He's such a phony, he doesn't believe half of what he says.
A good jeweler should be able to tell a real stone from a phony one.
something phony about the story
phony publicity stories
a phony name
… has a phony poetic elegance …
a phony watch with a designer logo
she always has this phony smile just before she betrays you
her concern for our welfare is as phony as all get-out—she just wants to know our business
the fancy emerald ring turned out to be a phony
the person who performed the liposuction operation was later discovered to be a phony
Word Forms & Grammar
pho·ni·er
pho·ni·est
pho·ni·ly adverb
pho·ni·ness noun
phoney
phonier
phoniest
phonily
phoniness
phoninesses
phony
pho·nies
pho·neys
phoneys
phonies
phoney (comparative phonier, superlative phoniest)
phoney (plural phoneys or phonies)
phoney (third-person singular simple present phoneys, present participle phoneying, simple past and past participle phoneyed)
Words That Rhyme With Phoney
Origin of Phoney
Origin 1: perhaps alteration of fawney gilded brass ring used in the fawney rig, a confidence game, from Irish fáinne ring, from Old Irish ánne anus
Origin 2: derivative of phony:1
First Known Use
1889
1902
How Do You Say Phoney?
Phoney is pronounced /ˈfō-nē/ and has 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (fō).
Questions People Ask About Phoney
Is phoney an adjective or a noun?
Phoney is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for phoney?
Close synonyms of phoney are counterfeit, phony and fake. See the full list of phoney synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of phoney?
The opposite of phoney can be expressed with words like authentic, bona fide, genuine and real.
What is the plural of phoney?
The plural of phoney is phoneys.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of phoney?
The comparative form is phonier and the superlative form is phoniest.