(also phony especially in NAmE ) / ˈfəʊni; NAmE ˈfoʊni/ adjective , noun
■ adjective
( pho·nier , pho·ni·est ) ( informal , disapproving ) not real or true; false, and trying to trick people
SYN fake :
She spoke with a phoney Russian accent.
■ noun
( pl. -neys or -nies ) ( formal ) a person who is not honest or sincere; a thing that is not real or true
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WORD ORIGIN
late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.