# pseudo

/ˈsudoʊ/ (US) · /sˈuːdəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pseudo
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. fake or false

adjective · CEFR B2

not real or honest, even if it looks like it is.

For teachers: spurious or sham; appearing to be one thing while being another in reality.

- He gave a pseudo apology that didn't sound sincere at all.
- The building was decorated in a pseudo-Gothic style that many architectural critics found gaudy and historically inaccurate.

### 2. a pretentious person

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

someone who tries to act more intelligent or important than they really are.

For teachers: an intellectually pretentious person or a poseur who lacks genuine depth.

- Don't listen to him; he's just a pseudo who wants to sound smart.
- The gallery was filled with pseudos who spent more time discussing the price of the art than the techniques used to create it.

### 3. online nickname

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a fake name used on the internet to stay anonymous.

For teachers: a pseudonym or false name adopted for online anonymity.

- I never use my real name on forums; I always use a pseudo.
- To protect her privacy while investigating the data leak, she operated under a pseudo that could not be traced back to her employer.

### 4. medication

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · Technical

a short name for a common medicine used to clear a blocked nose.

For teachers: a common clipping for pseudoephedrine, a sympathomimetic drug used as a nasal decongestant.

- The pharmacist said I needed to show my ID to buy any medicine containing pseudo.
- Due to its potential use in the illicit manufacture of stimulants, the sale of pseudo is strictly regulated in many jurisdictions.

## Examples

- He has a pseudo interest in art just to impress people.
- The building was decorated in a pseudo-classical style that looked cheap compared to the original stone structures nearby.
- Her pseudo-intellectual posturing during the seminar failed to mask a fundamental lack of engagement with the primary source material.

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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.