Faux

Faux is a French adjective meaning false or deceptive. In English usage, it is commonly employed as a loanword before a noun to indicate an imitation or artificial substitute rather than the genuine article. The word originates from the French faux, with the feminine form fausse and the plural forms faux (masculine) and fausses (feminine) in French.

In English, faux is typically used to describe materials, accessories, or effects that imitate a more expensive or natural counterpart. Common examples include faux fur, faux leather, faux wood (faux bois), faux marble, and faux pearls. The term also appears in phrases such as faux pas, which literally means “false step” in French and denotes a social blunder; its usage in English is largely independent of its original meaning beyond signaling a nont genuine or mistaken action.

Faux implies intentional design as an imitation and is often associated with affordability or stylized appearance rather than claim to authenticity. It is widely used in fashion, interior design, and product labeling to differentiate synthetic or simulated goods from real ones, while avoiding direct claims of genuineness.

In linguistics, the phrase faux ami (plural faux amis) refers to a false friend—words in two languages that look similar but have different meanings. Faux as a prefix or qualifier is thus a versatile marker of imitation, style, or critique, depending on context.