n.
Variant: also pho · ney
Pronunciation: ' f ō -n ē
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: 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 \ ' f ō -ni-l ē \ adverb
– pho · ni · ness \ ' f ō -n ē -n ə s \ noun