Englishfacade
variants: or less commonly façade
Definition
- : the front of a buildingalso : any face of a building given special architectural treatment //a brick facade //the museum's east facade
- : a false, superficial, or artificial appearance or effect //tried to preserve the facade of a happy marriage //These individuals have a deep understanding of who they are and what they stand for. They're grounded in reality and they don't feel the need to pretend or put on a façade for others. — Mia Zhang
Illustration
facade 1Examples
- //the facade of the bank
- //the windowless façade of the skyscraper
- //They were trying to preserve the facade of a happy marriage.
- //I could sense the hostility lurking behind her polite facade.
First Known Use
circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1History and Etymology
borrowed from French, going back to Middle French fassade, borrowed from Italian facciata, from faccia "face" (going back to Vulgar Latin *facia) + -ata -ade — more at face entry 1facade
noun
variants: also façade
Synonyms & Antonyms
- a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive //his interest in acting is just a facade—he joined the drama club to meet girlsSynonyms
- a deceptively attractive external appearance //the company's facade of success collapsed when it was revealed that its financial officers had been cooking the books for yearsSynonyms
facade
variants: or less commonly façade
Definition
- : the front of a buildingalso : any face of a building given special architectural treatment //a brick facade //the museum's east facade
- : a false, superficial, or artificial appearance or effect //tried to preserve the facade of a happy marriage //These individuals have a deep understanding of who they are and what they stand for. They're grounded in reality and they don't feel the need to pretend or put on a façade for others. — Mia Zhang
Illustration
facade 1Examples
- //the facade of the bank
- //the windowless façade of the skyscraper
- //They were trying to preserve the facade of a happy marriage.
- //I could sense the hostility lurking behind her polite facade.
First Known Use
circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1History and Etymology
borrowed from French, going back to Middle French fassade, borrowed from Italian facciata, from faccia "face" (going back to Vulgar Latin *facia) + -ata -ade — more at face entry 1facade
noun
variants: also façade
Synonyms & Antonyms
- a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive //his interest in acting is just a facade—he joined the drama club to meet girlsSynonyms
- a deceptively attractive external appearance //the company's facade of success collapsed when it was revealed that its financial officers had been cooking the books for yearsSynonyms
facade
variants: or less commonly façade
Definition
- : the front of a buildingalso : any face of a building given special architectural treatment //a brick facade //the museum's east facade
- : a false, superficial, or artificial appearance or effect //tried to preserve the facade of a happy marriage //These individuals have a deep understanding of who they are and what they stand for. They're grounded in reality and they don't feel the need to pretend or put on a façade for others. — Mia Zhang
Illustration
facade 1Examples
- //the facade of the bank
- //the windowless façade of the skyscraper
- //They were trying to preserve the facade of a happy marriage.
- //I could sense the hostility lurking behind her polite facade.
First Known Use
circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1History and Etymology
borrowed from French, going back to Middle French fassade, borrowed from Italian facciata, from faccia "face" (going back to Vulgar Latin *facia) + -ata -ade — more at face entry 1facade
noun
variants: also façade
Synonyms & Antonyms
- a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive //his interest in acting is just a facade—he joined the drama club to meet girlsSynonyms
- a deceptively attractive external appearance //the company's facade of success collapsed when it was revealed that its financial officers had been cooking the books for yearsSynonyms