sham (shăm)
n.
1.
a. Something false or empty that is purported to be genuine: "Because she had been so readily unfaithful, her marriage was a sham" (Alice Munro).
b. Deceitfulness or pretense: "She saw herself as a person surrounded by, living by, sham" (Alice Munro).
c. One who claims to be what he or she is not; an impostor or fraud: "He a man! Hell! He was a hollow sham!" (Joseph Conrad).
2. A decorative cover made to simulate an article of household linen and used over or in place of it: a pillow sham.
adj.
Not genuine; fake: sham diamonds; sham modesty.
v. shammed, sham·ming, shams
v.tr.
To put on the false appearance of; feign: "shamming insanity to get his tormentors to leave him alone" (John Wain).
v.intr.
To assume a false appearance or character; dissemble.