faux

adjective

ˈfō 

: not real or genuine: such as

a

: made to look like something else that is usually more valuable : imitation, fake

faux leather/fur

a string of faux pearls

… faux is the French word for fake, but it's a very chic fake. Faux marble, for example, is found in the best of homes.

—Sylvia Sachs

b

: not sincere

a show of faux [=feigned] concern

On Monday the CEO dusted off a version of the "I'm sorry if I offended you" faux apology used when people really mean, "I'm sorry I got caught."

—The East Bay (California) Times

Synonyms

• synthetic
• fake
• simulated
• artificial
• imitation
• dummy
• false
• mock

Examples of faux in a Sentence

even the celebrity interior designer was fooled by the faux marble

Recent Examples on the Web

During 1-on-1 drills, Morris lined up against London, looking to press the wideout as a faux defensive back. —Hailey Hurst, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025

Key styles include knitted jacquard suiting and reversible coats lined with faux fur, satin pants, tweed suits, and modern pinstripes on chiffon. —Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025

China’s youth unemployment is so high that Gen Zers are paying to pretend to work in faux offices across the country. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025

In the nearby library, choose a book and sit in front of the faux fireplace, or admire the sea from the floor-to-ceiling windows. —Fran Golden, AFAR Media, 28 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, false

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing faux

• faux hawk
• faux-naïf
• faux-naif
• faux pas

Rhymes for faux

• beau
• beaux
• blow
• boe
• bro
• coe
• crow
• doe
• doh
• dough
• eau
• eaux

Kids Definition

faux

adjective

ˈfō 

: imitation entry 2

faux marble

Etymology

from French, "false," from Latin falsus