appearances
n. C / Un. the way someone or something looks to other people, which might be different from the truth. You often use this when people try to act like everything is fine even when it is not.
n. the outward impression or public image presented by a person or situation, often contrasted with the underlying reality. Frequently used in the plural to describe the maintenance of social status or decorum.
They try very hard to keep up appearances despite their money problems.
To all outward appearances, the marriage was successful, but the couple had actually been living apart for years.
In high-stakes diplomacy, maintaining appearances is often as critical as the negotiations themselves, as any sign of internal division can be exploited by the opposing side.
Commonly used in the plural form within the fixed idiom 'keep up appearances'. When used to mean 'the way things look', it often takes the preposition 'to' ('to all appearances').
He cares about his appearance.He cares about appearances.Use the singular 'appearance' for someone's physical looks; use the plural 'appearances' for their general social image or the way a situation seems.