phoney

English

Alternative forms

• phony

Etymology

phon +‎ -ey

The lack of real substance inherent in a telephone conversation. From the New York Evening Telegram 1904.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -əʊni

Adjective

phoney (comparative phonier, superlative phoniest)

1. 1900 Fraudulent; fake; having a misleading appearance.

   A good jeweler should be able to tell a real stone from a phoney one.

Synonyms

• (fraudulent): bogus, counterfeit, fake
• See also Wikisaurus:fake

Derived terms

• phoneyness n
• phoniness n

Translations

Fraudulent; fake

• Arabic: بَهْرَج (báhraj) m, خَرّاص (xarrāʂ) m
• Chinese: 伪 (wěi), 冒牌 (màopái)
• Dutch: onecht, nagemaakt (usu. counterfeit)
• Finnish: väärä (fi), väärennetty (fi)
• French: frauduleux (fr) m, contrefait (fr) m, falsifié (fr) m, faux (fr) m, à la noix (fr), à la gomme (fr)
• German: unecht, falsch, Schein-

• Hebrew: מזויף
• Italian: fasullo (it)
• Japanese: 偽物の (にせものの, nisemono no)
• Russian: поддельный (poddél’nyj), фальшивый (fal’šívyj)
• Spanish: falso (es)

Noun

phoney (plural phoneys or phonies)

1. A person who assumes an identity or quality other than their own.

   He claims to be a doctor, but he's nothing but a fast-talking phoney.

2. A person who professes beliefs or opinions that they do not hold.

Synonyms

• dissembler
• pretender
• fake

Translations

A person who assumes an identity or quality other than their own

• Finnish: huijari (fi)

• French: usurpateur (fr) m, usurpatrice (fr) f, faux-nez (fr), faussaire (fr)

A person who professes beliefs or opinions that they do not hold

• French: mystificateur (fr) m, guignol (fr) m, faux (fr) prophète (fr) m

Derived terms

• phoney up
• Phoney War