Illustration of facade
- facade 1
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
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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.
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
Fact to know: In collaboration with the Dilworth Historic Commission, the project team used traditional materials and techniques — including the help of a master stonemason with access to original quarries — to ensure consistency with the church’s limestone facade.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2025
Its grand facade, looming over the misty abyss of Tequendama Falls, is the kind of place that invites amazement and a little unease.
—Josh Rivera, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
The mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, also said Sunday that a Russian strike had hit one of his city’s kindergartens, shattering windows and damaging the building’s facade.
—Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2025
But the show itself isn’t so quick to ignore the pitch-black truths behind luxurious facades.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for facade
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Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2025
Its grand facade, looming over the misty abyss of Tequendama Falls, is the kind of place that invites amazement and a little unease.
—Josh Rivera, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
The mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, also said Sunday that a Russian strike had hit one of his city’s kindergartens, shattering windows and damaging the building’s facade.
—Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2025
But the show itself isn’t so quick to ignore the pitch-black truths behind luxurious facades.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for facade
Cite this Entry
“Facade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/facade. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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