# facade

/fəˈsɑd/ (US) · /fəsˈɑːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/facade
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. front of a building

noun · CEFR B2

the front part of a building that faces the street.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. false appearance

noun · CEFR B2

a way of behaving that hides your true feelings or a difficult situation.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. code interface

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a simple way to use a complex set of computer code.

For teachers: 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'.

## Examples

- The old theater has a beautiful stone facade.
- Despite her calm facade, she was actually very nervous about the presentation.
- The architect preserved the original Victorian facade while completely modernizing the interior to accommodate high-tech office spaces.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.