sham

[ sham ]

noun

1. something that is not what it purports to be; a spurious imitation; fraud or hoax.

   Synonyms: pretense

2. a person who shams; shammer.
3. a cover or the like for giving a thing a different outward appearance:

   a pillow sham.

adjective

1. pretended; counterfeit; feigned:

   sham attacks; a sham Gothic façade.

   Synonyms: mock, make-believe, spurious

   Antonyms: genuine

2. designed, made, or used as a sham.

verb (used with object)

, shammed, sham·ming.

1. to produce an imitation of.

   Synonyms: imitate

2. to assume the appearance of; pretend to have:

   to sham illness.

   Synonyms: fake, feign

verb (used without object)

, shammed, sham·ming.

1. to make a false show of something; pretend.

sham

/ ʃæm /

noun

1. anything that is not what it purports or appears to be
2. something false, fake, or fictitious that purports to be genuine
3. a person who pretends to be something other than he is

adjective

1. counterfeit or false; simulated

verb

1. to falsely assume the appearance of (something); counterfeit

   to sham illness

Derived Forms

• ˈshammer, noun

Other Words From

• un·shammed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sham¹

First recorded in 1670–80; perhaps an alteration of shame ( def ); origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of sham¹

C17: perhaps a Northern English dialect variant of shame

Synonym Study

See false.

Example Sentences

She had no reason to suspect it was in fact all a sham, but as they returned from their "honeymoon" in March - just four months after McDonald had left prison - the net was closing in.

From BBC

"Lukashenko is afraid right now to make any big moves and changes before his sham election - his self-reappointment. Just showing Maria doesn't threaten him, but he wants to show it as a big gesture of humanity - which it's not of course," Mr Viacorka believes.

From BBC

The clip provoked outrage, but it was a sham — Harris never said that.

From Los Angeles Times

Vought said that independent agencies and unelected bureaucrats and experts wield far too much power while the traditional legislative process is a sham.

From Salon

Mohammed Bashir is the manager of Sham Supermarket in Belfast, which was burnt down during the racist violence in August.

From BBC

Related Words

• bogus
• fictitious
• fraudulent
• phony