sham

Sham is a term with several distinct meanings in English and in other languages. As a noun, it refers to something that is intended to look real or genuine but is in fact false. As an adjective, sham describes something that is fake, counterfeit, or insincere. The word is commonly used to express criticism of deceit or pretense, such as a sham marriage or a sham apology. The etymology of sham is unclear, and the word has been part of English for many centuries.

In geographic and cultural contexts, sham appears in the name of a historical region. In Arabic, ash-Sham (often rendered al-Sham) denotes the Levant, or Greater Syria, an area that has included present-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine/Israel, and sometimes parts of surrounding regions. Historically, the term has been used in literature, religious texts, and political discourse to refer to this broad eastern Mediterranean zone. In modern usage, the term can appear in historical discussions or in cultural references, but it is less common in everyday contemporary geography.

Sham also functions as a proper name in various cultures. It can be a given name or surname in different languages, and may appear in place names or personal identifications. Because of its multiple senses, the meaning of sham is best understood from context, distinguishing whether it signals deceit, a geographic reference, or a personal name.