Pseudo- is used to form adjectives and nouns that indicate that something is not the thing it is claimed to be. Forexample, if you describe a country as a pseudo-democracy, you mean that it is notreally a democracy, although its government claims that it is.
...pseudo-intellectual images.
More Synonyms of pseudo
pseudo in British English
(ˈsjuːdəʊ)
adjective
informal
not genuine; pretended
pseudo- in British English
or sometimes before a vowel pseud-
combining form
1.
false, pretending, or unauthentic
pseudo-intellectual
2.
having a close resemblance to
pseudopodium
Word origin
from Greek pseudēs false, from pseudein to lie
pseudo in American English
(ˈsudoʊ; ˈsjudoʊ)
adjective
sham; false; spurious; pretended; counterfeit
Word origin
ME: see pseudo-
pseudo- in American English
(ˈsudoʊ; ˈsudə; ˈsjudoʊ)
1.
fictitious, pretended, or sham
pseudoscience
2.
counterfeit or spurious
3.
closely or deceptively similar to (a specified thing)
pseudomorph
4.
not corresponding to the reality; illusory
pseudopregnancy
5. Chemistry
an isomer or related form of (a specified compound)
pseudoionone
Also, before a vowel, pseud-
Word origin
ME < LL < Gr pseudo- < pseudēs, false < pseudein, to deceive
Examples of 'pseudo' in a sentence
pseudo
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
"As the programme changed, the room filled with the screech of brakes and rapid gunfire of a pseudo Western.
Fraser, Anthea PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW (2003)
Correct me if I'm wrong, Abbot, but didn't the pseudo Mrs Smith say that Miss Gore provided the evening meal at six-thirty.
Penn, John WIDOW'S END (2003)
Even if he had some kind of weird pseudo consciousness it would be no more than that of a wraith; nothing you couldn't override.
Barbara Erskine SANDS OF TIME (2003)
So," John went on triumphantly, taking a bite out of a piece of leathery toast spread with pseudo butter.
S.M. Stirling T2: INFILTRATOR (2003)
Definition of 'pseudo-'
(adjective)
Definition
false, pretending, or unauthentic
What a load of pompous, pseudo-intellectual rubbish!
Synonyms
false
He paid for a false passport.
pretended
Todd shrugged with pretended indifference.
artificial
The voice was affected, the accent artificial.
fake
The bank manager is said to have issued fake certificates.
phoney or phony (informal)
mock
`It's tragic,' he swooned in mock horror.
imitation
a set of novels bound in imitation leather
bogus
bogus insurance claims
sham
The election has been denounced as a sham by world leaders.
counterfeit
He admitted possessing and delivering counterfeit currency.
spurious
a spurious framework for analysis
ersatz
an electric fire with ersatz logs
not genuine
quasi-
a quasi-biography or mythobiography
Opposites
genuine
,
authentic
,
real
,
true
,
actual
,
sincere
,
honest
,
heartfelt
,
bona fide
,
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal)
,
unfeigned
Additional synonyms
in the sense of artificial
Definition
not sincere
The voice was affected, the accent artificial.
Synonyms
insincere,
forced,
affected,
assumed,
phoney or phony (informal),
put on,
false,
pretended,
hollow,
contrived,
unnatural,
feigned,
spurious,
meretricious
in the sense of bogus
Definition
not genuine
bogus insurance claims
Synonyms
fake,
false,
artificial,
forged,
dummy,
imitation,
sham,
fraudulent,
pseudo (informal),
counterfeit,
spurious,
ersatz,
phoney or phony (informal),
assumed
in the sense of counterfeit
Definition
pretended
He admitted possessing and delivering counterfeit currency.
Synonyms
fake,
copied,
false,
forged,
imitation,
bogus,
simulated,
sham,
fraudulent,
feigned,
spurious,
ersatz,
phoney or phony (informal),
pseud or pseudo (informal)
Nearby words of
pseudo-
prying
psalm
pseud
pseudo-
pseudonym
psych
psych someone out
Synonyms of 'pseudo-'
pseudo-
Explore 'pseudo-' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ersatz
Definition
made in imitation of something more expensive
an electric fire with ersatz logs
Synonyms
artificial,
substitute,
pretend,
fake,
imitation,
synthetic,
bogus,
simulated,
sham,
counterfeit,
spurious,
phoney or phony (informal)
in the sense of fake
Definition
not genuine
The bank manager is said to have issued fake certificates.
Synonyms
artificial,
false,
forged,
counterfeit,
affected,
assumed,
put-on,
pretend (informal),
mock,
imitation,
sham,
pseudo (informal),
feigned,
pinchbeck,
phoney or phony (informal)
in the sense of imitation
Definition
made to resemble something which is usually superior or more expensive
a set of novels bound in imitation leather
Synonyms
artificial,
mock,
reproduction,
dummy,
synthetic,
man-made,
simulated,
sham,
pseudo (informal),
ersatz,
repro,
phoney or phony (informal)
in the sense of mock
Definition
serving as an imitation or substitute, esp. for practice purposes
`It's tragic,' he swooned in mock horror.
Synonyms
imitation,
pretended,
artificial,
forged,
fake,
false,
faked,
dummy,
bogus,
sham,
fraudulent,
pseudo (informal),
counterfeit,
feigned,
spurious,
ersatz,
phoney or phony (informal)
in the sense of pretended
Todd shrugged with pretended indifference.
Synonyms
feigned,
alleged,
so-called,
phoney or phony (informal),
false,
pretend (informal),
fake,
imaginary,
bogus,
professed,
sham,
purported,
pseudo (informal),
counterfeit,
spurious,
fictitious,
avowed,
ostensible
in the sense of quasi-
Definition
resembling but not actually being
a quasi-biography or mythobiography
Synonyms
pseudo-,
so-called,
apparent,
seeming,
would-be,
near,
pretended,
virtual,
fake,
mock,
synthetic,
nominal,
sham,
semi-
in the sense of sham
Definition
not real or genuine
The election has been denounced as a sham by world leaders.