Sham
/ʃæm/
Definitions
2 meaningsA thing that is purported to be something it is not; a fraud.
/ʃæm/
Something that is not what it appears to be and is intended to deceive.
The whole trial was a sham, with fabricated evidence.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone trying to trick you! A 'sham' is like a fake thing, like a pretend birthday present that's actually empty. It’s all a big lie.
👶 For kids: A pretend thing that isn't real.
More Examples
Her tears were a sham, designed to gain sympathy.
The charity was exposed as a sham, using donations for personal gain.
How It's Used
"The politician's promises turned out to be a sham."
"The company set up a sham corporation to avoid paying taxes."
To pretend; to feign; to act as if.
/ʃæm/
To pretend to be something or to feel something.
He shammed a limp to get out of doing his chores.
💡 Simply: Have you ever pretended to be sick so you didn’t have to do something? That’s 'shamming'! It means to act like you’re something you’re not, like pretending you love a gift you actually hate.
👶 For kids: To pretend to be something.
More Examples
She shammed interest in the boring lecture.
The actor shammed fear during the scene.
How It's Used
"He shammed illness to avoid going to work."
"She shammed a smile to appear polite, even though she was angry."
Synonyms
Fake
Fraud
Hoax
Imitation
Pretense
Affect
Feign
Pretend
Idioms & expressions
sham battle
A mock battle, especially for training purposes.
"The soldiers participated in a sham battle to practice their tactics."
From Middle English *sham*, of uncertain origin. Possibly related to Old English *sceamu* ('shame').
The word 'sham' has been used since the late 18th century and evolved from slang, gradually becoming part of standard English vocabulary.
Memory tip
Think of a *sham* wedding: it looks real but is just for show.