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Definition of phoniness

phoniness

/ˈfoʊninəs/
(UK: phoneyness)
pho · ni · ness
Adverb:phonily
•
Adjective:phony
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phoniness Lexical Profile

phoniness Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American The quality or state of being insincere, pretentious, or not genuine.

Example

"The protagonist in the novel constantly complains about the superficiality and phoniness of adult society."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for phoniness

• Nearby Words

phonically
phonics
phonily
phoniness
phonograph
phony
phooey

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the American English adjective 'phony' (late 19th century) combined with the suffix '-ness'. 'Phony' itself likely stems from the British underworld cant term 'fawney', meaning a gilt brass ring used by confidence tricksters, from Irish 'fáinne' (ring).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Phoniness. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/phoniness
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