Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - phony

 also -phonia  noun combining form  Etymology: Latin -phonia, from Greek -phonia, from -phonos sounding — more at -phone  1. sound telephony  2. (usually -phonia) speech disorder of a (specified) type dysphonia PHONY  I. adjective  also phoney  (phonier; -est)  Etymology: perhaps alteration of fawney gilded brass ring used in the fawney rig, a confidence game, from Irish fainne ring, from Old Irish anne — 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 ~ about the story  c. having no basis in fact ; fictitious ~ publicity stories  d. false, sham a ~ name  e. making a false show: as  (1) hypocritical  (2) specious has a ~ poetic elegance — New Republic  • phonily adverb  • phoniness noun  II. noun  also phoney  (plural phonies; also phoneys)  Date: 1902 one that is ~  III. transitive verb  (phonied; ~ing)  Date: circa 1942 counterfeit, fake — often used with up a paper phonied up on the spur of the moment — William Faulkner PHONY-BALONEY  or phoney-baloney  adjective  Date: 1978 phony e