I. adjective
also pho·ney ˈfō-nē
( pho·ni·er ; -est )
Etymology: perhaps alteration of fawney gilded brass ring used in the fawney rig, a confidence game, from Irish fáinne ring, from Old Irish ánne — more at anus
Date: 1900
: not genuine or real: as
a.
(1) : intended to deceive or mislead
(2) : intended to defraud : counterfeit
b. : arousing suspicion : probably dishonest
something phony about the story
c. : having no basis in fact : fictitious
phony publicity stories
d. : false , sham
a phony name
e. : making a false show: as
(1) : hypocritical
(2) : specious
has a phony poetic elegance — New Republic
• pho·ni·ly ˈfō-ni-lē adverb
• pho·ni·ness ˈfō-nē-nəs noun
II. noun
also phoney
( plural pho·nies also phoneys )
Date: 1902
: one that is phony
III. transitive verb
( pho·nied ; pho·ny·ing )
Date: circa 1942
: counterfeit , fake — often used with up
a paper phonied up on the spur of the moment — William Faulkner