façade — the front face or elevation of a building; an outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the front face or elevation of a building; an outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality
Pronunciation (IPA): /fəˈsɑːd/
Example Sentences
- The restaurant's fancy facade couldn't hide the terrible food inside.
- His cheerful facade at work masks his stress about the upcoming deadline.
- The old building's beautiful facade was the only thing that survived the fire.
façade
NOUN[/fəˈsɑːd/]
the front face or elevation of a building; an outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality
a well-dressed woman walks confidently toward what appears to be an elegant mansion with ornate columns and detailed architecture. She reaches for the front door expecting luxury inside. However, through a large crack in the decorative front wall, the interior reveals broken floors, exposed beams, and debris scattered everywhere. The woman's expression changes to complete shock as she realizes the beautiful exterior was hiding a completely deteriorated interior. A maintenance worker nearby shakes his head knowingly at another person fooled by appearances. the front face of a building maintained to conceal a less pleasant reality behind it
Behind the grand parade lies a crumbling façade and hollow charade!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from French façade, which originates from Latin facies meaning 'face' or 'appearance'. Originally referring to the front face of a building, the term evolved metaphorically to denote a deceptive outward appearance or pretense.
Breakdown
Latin facies (face, appearance) + French diminutive/agentive suffix -ade → façade. The word literally means 'the face of a building' before acquiring its figurative sense of 'false front or deceptive appearance'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The restaurant's fancy facade couldn't hide the terrible food inside.”
“His cheerful facade at work masks his stress about the upcoming deadline.”
“The old building's beautiful facade was the only thing that survived the fire.”
“She maintained a facade of confidence, but inside she was terrified of the presentation.”
📚Related Words
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