The difference between Fake and Phony

When used as nouns, fake means something which is not genuine, or is presented fraudulently, whereas phony means a person who assumes an identity or quality other than their own.

When used as adjectives, fake means not real, whereas phony means fraudulent.


Fake is also verb with the meaning: to cheat.

check bellow for the other definitions of Fake and Phony

  1. Fake as an adjective:

    Not real; false, fraudulent.

    Examples:

    "Which fur coat looks fake?"

  2. Fake as an adjective (of people):

    Insincere.

  1. Fake as a noun:

    Something which is not genuine, or is presented fraudulently.

  2. Fake as a noun:

    A trick; a swindle.

  3. Fake as a noun (sports):

    A move meant to deceive an opposing player, used for gaining advantage for example when dribbling an opponent.

  1. Fake as a verb:

    To cheat; to swindle; to steal; to rob.

  2. Fake as a verb (archaic):

    To modify fraudulently, so as to make an object appear better or other than it really is

  3. Fake as a verb:

    To make a counterfeit, to counterfeit, to forge, to falsify.

  4. Fake as a verb:

    To make a false display of, to affect, to feign, to simulate.

    Examples:

    "to fake a marriage"

    "to fake happiness"

    "to fake a smile"

  1. Fake as a noun (nautical):

    One of the circles or windings of a cable or hawser, as it lies in a coil; a single turn or coil.

  1. Fake as a verb (nautical):

    To coil (a rope, line, or hawser), by winding alternately in opposite directions, in layers usually of zigzag or figure of eight form, to prevent twisting when running out.

  1. Phony as an adjective:

    Fraudulent; fake; having a misleading appearance.

    Examples:

    "A good jeweler should be able to tell a real stone from a phony one."

  1. Phony as a noun:

    A person who assumes an identity or quality other than their own.

    Examples:

    "He claims to be a doctor, but he's nothing but a fast-talking phony."

  2. Phony as a noun:

    A person who professes beliefs or opinions that they do not hold.

    Examples:

    "He's such a phony, he doesn't believe half of what he says."