Faux (rhymes with “go”) is a French word meaning false or fake, used in English to describe something made to look like something else, usually something more expensive or luxurious. When you see faux fur on a coat, it means the fabric is designed to look and feel like real animal fur, but it's actually made from synthetic materials. Faux leather looks like genuine leather but is made from plastic or fabric.

The word often appears when people want something that has a certain look or style without the high cost or other concerns of the real thing. A decorator might choose faux wood beams for a ceiling because they're lighter and cheaper than actual timber. Someone might wear faux pearls that look elegant but cost far less than real pearls from oysters.

Unlike words such as “fake” or “counterfeit,” which can sound negative or sneaky, faux is usually straightforward and honest. Nobody's pretending the faux Christmas tree in your living room grew in a forest. The word simply describes an imitation, and using it shows you're being clear about what something is and isn't.