Words / B2

f-uh-SAHD/fəˈsɑːd/

A facade is the front of a building, or a false appearance: a Georgian facade; a facade of consultation. Front is everyday for the building; pretence is close for the false-show sense. The consultation was a facade. Spelling: façade with a cedilla is also seen. Do not call a polite smile a facade unless it hides something serious.

Meaning

The front of a building; also a false appearance that hides the truth.

Examples

• “The consultation was a facade: the timetable had already been printed.”
• “Scaffolding hid the facade during the listed-building repair, which is the architecture sense.”

Good to know

a facade of + noun; behind the facade. Buildings: the front elevation. Figurative: a false show. Formal register. Planning and politics.

Near in meaning

front

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