a. [ Also spelled phoney. ] [ Compar. phonier superl. phoniest. ] 1. imitating something superior; intended to deceive; fraudulent; having a misleading appearance; not genuine; counterfeit; fake; as, a phony diamond; a phony hundred-dollar bill. Syn. -- phoney, bogus, counterfeit, fake. [ PJC ]
2. Pretending to be other than one is; putting on false appearances; insincere; hypocritical; -- of people. [ PJC ]
n. Something or someone that is phony. [ Also spelled phoney. ] [ PJC ]