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DictionaryshamPretense
noun / adjective / verb

sham

SHAM/ʃæm/

Something falsely presented as genuine.

The gold ingot is a sham concealing an ordinary red brick.

An apparently valuable gold ingot displayed in an elegant presentation case is exposed as an ordinary red brick beneath a thin gold-colored covering.
Etymology
shamEnglishoutward show; imitation

Originally a trick or hoax, a sham came to mean something given a deceptive outward appearance. Its origin is uncertain; a connection with a dialectal form of shame is only a possibility.

In context

Universal Pictures1:39
What a sham! What kind of a show are you guys putting on here today?
Scent of a Woman | "I'll Show You Out of Order!"

More examples

  • His apology was a sham; he felt no regret.
  • The sham election offers voters no real choice.
  • She is shamming illness to avoid the meeting.

Forms

sham · shams · shammed · shamming

Similar words

fake
Often describes an imitation object passed off as authentic.
fraud
Emphasizes deliberate deception, especially for money or personal gain.
pretense
Emphasizes an outward show hiding someone's real feelings or intentions.