The difference between Phony and Pretender

When used as nouns, phony means a person who assumes an identity or quality other than their own, whereas pretender means a person who professes beliefs and opinions that they do not hold.


Phony is also adjective with the meaning: fraudulent.

check bellow for the other definitions of Phony and Pretender

  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."

  1. Pretender as a noun:

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

  2. Pretender as a noun:

    A claimant to an abolished or already occupied throne.