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Phony vs Impostor - What's the difference?

phony | impostor |

As nouns the difference between phony and impostor

is that phony is a person who assumes an identity or quality other than their own while impostor is someone who attempts to deceive by using an assumed name or identity.

As an adjective phony

is fraudulent; fake; having a misleading appearance.

phony

English

Alternative forms

* phoney

Adjective

(er)
  • Fraudulent; fake; having a misleading appearance.
    • A good jeweler should be able to tell a real stone from a phony one.

    Synonyms

    * (fraudulent) bogus, counterfeit, fake * See also

    Antonyms

    * authentic * genuine

    Derived terms

    * phoniness * phoneyness

    Noun

    (phonies)
  • A person who assumes an identity or quality other than their own.
    • He claims to be a doctor, but he's nothing but a fast-talking phony .
  • A person who professes beliefs or opinions that they do not hold.
    • He's such a phony , he doesn't believe half of what he says.

    Synonyms

    * (faker) dissembler, pretender, fake, faker

    Derived terms

    * phony up, phoney up * Phony War, Phoney War

    impostor

    English

    (wikipedia impostor)

    Alternative forms

    * imposter * impostour (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Someone who attempts to deceive by using an assumed name or identity.
  • *

    • Synonyms

    * impersonator * See also