sham

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun American English

n. a decorative cover for a pillow that you put on a bed.

n. an ornamental cloth cover for a pillow, typically used for aesthetic purposes on a made bed.

“She bought a matching set of sheets and pillow shams for the guest room.”

“The interior designer suggested silk shams to add a layer of texture to the master bedroom suite.”

C1 · Advanced Formal

adj. not real, but made to look real to trick people.

adj. intended to deceive; counterfeit or feigned rather than genuine.

“They were caught in a sham marriage just to get a visa.”

“The protesters dismissed the government's proposal as a sham consultation that ignored their primary concerns.”

C2 · Proficiency Formal

v. to pretend to have a feeling or an illness.

v. to feign or simulate a physical or emotional state in order to deceive.

“He decided to sham illness so he could stay home from school.”

“The prisoner attempted to sham madness to avoid standing trial for his crimes.”