phony Definition
- 1not genuine; fraudulent
- 2pretending to be someone else; false or deceptive in nature
Using phony: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "phony" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He gave me a phony phone number.
Example
The painting was discovered to be a phony.
Example
She put on a phony accent to impress her friends.
Example
The politician's promises were revealed to be phony.
phony Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for phony
Phrases with phony
Example
Don't listen to his phony baloney excuses.
a period of apparent military inactivity or limited action during a war, often used to describe the early months of World War II
Example
The Phony War ended with the German invasion of Denmark and Norway in April 1940.
Example
She put on a phony smile to hide her disappointment.
Origins of phony
from Greek 'phōnē', meaning 'voice, sound'
Summary: phony in Brief
The term 'phony' [ˈfoʊni] refers to something that is not genuine or authentic, often fraudulent or deceptive in nature. It can describe a fake phone number, painting, accent, or promises. 'Phony' extends into phrases like 'phony baloney,' denoting nonsense, and 'phony war,' describing a period of apparent military inactivity.
