Word
facade
Phoneticsfa·cade, stress on the second syllable
US/fəˈsɑd/
UK/fəsˈɑːd/
Definitions
01front of a building
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the front part of a building that faces the street.
n. the principal front of a building, typically facing a public space or street, often featuring more elaborate architectural detail than the other sides.
“The old museum has a beautiful stone facade with tall columns.”
“The architect preserved the original Victorian facade while completely modernising the internal structure of the office complex.”
02false appearance
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a way of behaving that hides your true feelings or a difficult situation.
n. a deceptive or artificial outward appearance used to conceal a less pleasant reality.
“Behind his cheerful facade, he was actually feeling very lonely.”
“The company maintained a facade of financial stability for months, even as its internal debts continued to mount dangerously.”
03code interface
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a simple way to use a complex set of computer code.
n. a structural design pattern that provides a simplified interface to a larger, more complex body of code or subsystem.
“The developer used a facade to make the complex library easier for others to use.”
“By implementing a facade, the engineering team decoupled the client-side logic from the intricate details of the legacy database API.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'facade pattern'.
Real-World Examples
“There was also a coach house and several stable blocks, and the mansion with its Jacobean facade had been turned into flats.” “Work on the western facade began in 1200, but the first tower - the north one - was not completed until 40 years later.” Etymology
Borrowed from French façade, from Italian facciata, a derivation of faccia (“front”), from Latin faciēs (“face”); compare face.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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