Definitions for phony
ˈfoʊ nipho·ny

Princeton's WordNet(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. hypocrite, dissembler, dissimulator, phony, phoney, pretenderadjective

   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

2. bogus, fake, phony, phoney, bastardadjective

   fraudulent; having a misleading appearance

GCIDE(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. phonyadjective

   imitating something superior; intended to deceive; fraudulent; having a misleading appearance; not genuine; counterfeit; fake; as, a phony diamond; a phony hundred-dollar bill.

2. phonyadjective

   Pretending to be other than one is; putting on false appearances; insincere; hypocritical; -- of people.

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. phonynoun

   A faker, a person who professes beliefs or opinions that they do not hold or assumes an identity other than their own.

   He's as phony as a three-dollar bill.

   Etymology: Perhaps an alteration of fawney “gilt brass ring used by swindlers” (1781), from Ir. fáinne “ring.”

2. phonyadjective

   Fraudulent; fake; having a misleading appearance.

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

   Etymology: Perhaps an alteration of fawney “gilt brass ring used by swindlers” (1781), from Ir. fáinne “ring.”

How to pronounce phony?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say phony in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of phony in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of phony in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of phony in a Sentence

1. Angel Blessing:

   There are questions of real power and then there are questions of phony authority. You have to break through the phony authority to begin to fight the real questions of power.

2. Paul Barrett:

   The kind of free speech that we are most interested in promoting — and that the first amendment is directed at — is speech related to political matters, public affairs and personal expression, none of those kinds of speech would be affected by an effort to screen out disguised, phony advertising that purports to come from organizations that don’t really exist and actually attempt to undermine discussions on elections. There will be some limitations on fraudulent speech and violent speech, but those are not the types of speech protected by the first amendment. We can afford to lose those types of speech to create an environment where free speech is promoted.

3. Donald Trump:

   I believe you can prep too much for those things, it can be dangerous. You can sound scripted or phony – like you’re trying to be someone you’re not.

4. Mitt Romney:

   He’s not the real deal, he’s a phony.

5. Oscar Levant:

   Behind the phony tinsel of Hollywood lies the real tinsel.

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