Phony
/ˈfoʊni/
adjectivenounB2
Definition
Phony is used to describe something false or not true. When you call a person phony, it means they are pretending or lying about who they are. When you call an object phony, it is fake or not real.
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See It in Action
Adjective: Not real or genuine; fake
- •That watch is phony; it’s not a real brand.
- •She gave a phony smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
- •The phony story fooled many people.
Noun: A person who pretends to be something they are not; a fake person
- •He is a phony who says he is rich but isn’t.
- •Don’t trust him; he’s just a phony.
- •The actor played a phony in the movie.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "phony" like "fake" (A1 word), but often used for people or things pretending to be real or honest
- ✓Picture a mask hiding a face, showing a false identity or feeling
- ✓It's the feeling when you realize someone is not being honest or true to themselves
- ✓Sounds like "phony" → imagine a phone that looks real but doesn’t work, so it’s useless or fake
- ✓Think of stories where a character pretends to be someone important but is really just pretending (like a spy or a trickster)
- ✓NOT like "real" (true and honest), phony means the opposite—something false or pretending
- ✓NOT like "broken" (not working), phony means something is made to look real but isn’t
- ✓NOT like "honest" (telling the truth), phony means dishonest or pretending
Try Other Words
- •Fake: not real or genuine (Use when talking about objects or general things)
- •Counterfeit: made to look like something real, especially money or documents (Use in formal or legal contexts)
- •Insincere: not honest in feelings or words (Use when talking about people’s emotions or expressions)
- •Pretend: to act as if something is true when it is not (Use for actions or behavior)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (No clear prefix or suffix, "phony" is a standalone word)
- •Etymology: Originated in American English in early 1900s, possibly from the word "phone" meaning "phony" as in fake or false, related to "telephone" or "phony" meaning "fake"
- •Historical development: First used to describe counterfeit money or fake items, then expanded to describe fake people or insincere behavior
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in everyday English to describe anything or anyone that is not genuine or honest, especially in informal speech
Reflect & Connect
•How can you tell if someone is being phony in real life? What signs do you notice?
•Why do you think people sometimes act phony instead of being honest?
Fill in the blanks
1.When someone is phony, they often ___ their true feelings to others.
2.A phony smile usually does not show ___ in the eyes.
3.That watch looks phony because it is made of cheap ___.
4.People call him phony because he ___ to be richer than he really is.
5.Unlike a real friend, a phony person only talks to you when they want ___.
6.When you find out a story is phony, it means it was not ___ from the start.
7.Phony things often look real but fail to ___ the qualities of the genuine item.