facade

noun

fa·​cade fə-ˈsäd How to pronounce facade (audio)
variants or less commonly façade
1
: the front of a building
also : any face of a building given special architectural treatment
a museum's east facade
2
: a false, superficial, or artificial appearance or effect
tried to preserve the facade of a happy marriage

Illustration of facade

Illustration of facade
  • facade 1

Did you know?

A Brief History of Facade

Facade is thought to have come to English from the Vulgar Latin facia, meaning “face.” Along the way it passed through both Italian, as faccia, and French, as façade. The earliest meaning of the word in English was in reference to the front portion of a building, its “face,” so to speak (and face itself is sometimes used to describe this part of a structure as well). Somewhere along the way facade took on a figurative sense, referring to a way of behaving or appearing that gives other people a false idea of your true feelings or situation. This is similar to the figurative use of veneer, which originally had the simple meaning of a thin layer of wood that was used to cover something, and now may also refer to a sort of deceptive behavior that masks one’s actual feelings (as in, “he had a thin veneer of politeness”).

Examples of facade in a Sentence

"I mean, don't you find yourself being extra careful about what you say and how you say it? As if you have to be this phony, put on a facade, because you don't want to give them the wrong impression?" Terry McMillan, Waiting to Exhale, 1992
When I watched him in motion picture roles after the war, I knew there was something of honest substance behind that acting façade. Andrew A. Rooney, And More by Andy Rooney, (1979) 1982
… but his magic power of concentration was gone. All the façades he built up between himself and his desperate love never entirely hid it. May Sarton, Shadow of a Man, 1950
the facade of the bank the windowless façade of the skyscraper They were trying to preserve the facade of a happy marriage. I could sense the hostility lurking behind her polite facade.
Recent Examples on the Web Elena is erratic and grasping, with a facade of strength that covers up a sinkhole of oozing insecurity. Susan Dominus, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 With countless high-rises built with flammable cladding around the world, the next facade blaze is an inevitability, says Rein. Alex Christian, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2024 Sintered stone, like their product Dekton, is already being used to clad surfaces inside the home and now it’s being applied to exterior pavers, facades, patios, and even fire pits, Ramos says. Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Feb. 2024 Set behind a gated driveway, the townhouse was originally designed in the Arts and Crafts style by architects Eustace Balfour and High Thackery Turner, with a red brick facade accented by Portland stone bay windows and a gabled roofline. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2024 The ads open with a stirring violin track, the subject striding confidently past the Broadway facade of the L.A. County Hall of Justice, or the Temple Street face of the United States Courthouse, or the Art Deco tower of City Hall. Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2024 Much of the brick facade was seen lying in the street after sunrise. Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 16 Feb. 2024 The celebration commenced with a cocktail hour on the studio's New York backlot, where attendees enjoyed a setting reminiscent of Brooklyn (home of the pledge's founder Aurora James), complete with bars set against brownstone facades. Rachel Besser, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2024 Here, in the presence of Hegra's timeless facades and the echoes of ancient kingdoms, Desert X AlUla 2024 invites the world to witness the union of artistic innovation and historical grandeur, fostering a contemplative pilgrimage into the essence of invisibility and resonance. Shelby Knick, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'facade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French fassade, borrowed from Italian facciata, from faccia "face" (going back to Vulgar Latin *facia) + -ata -ade — more at face entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of facade was circa 1681

Dictionary Entries Near facade

Cite this Entry

“Facade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/facade. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

facade

noun
fa·​cade
variants also façade
1
: the face or front of a building
2
: a false or misleading appearance
a facade of wealth

More from Merriam-Webster on facade

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