ENGLISH
REFERENCE

facade

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //fəˈsɑd// UK //fəsˈɑːd// fa·cade

n. the front of a building that faces the street. It can also mean a false appearance that hides someone's real feelings or a difficult situation.

n. the principal front of a building, typically facing a street or open space; figuratively, a deceptive outward appearance or manner.


SIMPLE

The old theater has a beautiful stone facade.

CONTEXTUAL

Despite her calm facade, she was actually very nervous about the presentation.

COMPLEX

The architect preserved the original Victorian facade while completely modernizing the interior to accommodate high-tech office spaces.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from French façade, from Italian facciata, a derivation of faccia (“front”), from Latin faciēs (“face”); compare face.

Usage

Often used with the verb 'maintain' when referring to a deceptive appearance.

Pitfall

behind the facade of the buildingon the facade of the buildingWhen referring to architectural features, use 'on' for the surface; 'behind' refers to what is inside the building.

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