A veneer is a thin layer of fine material that covers something less attractive underneath. When furniture makers create an expensive-looking table, they often glue a thin sheet of beautiful wood (like mahogany or walnut) over cheaper wood like pine. That outer layer is a veneer. It makes the table look elegant without the cost of using solid mahogany all the way through.

The word also describes behavior or appearance that hides what's really there. When someone puts on a veneer of confidence, they act self-assured on the outside while feeling nervous inside. A bully might maintain a veneer of toughness to hide insecurity. A messy room might have a veneer of organization after you've quickly shoved everything into the closet before guests arrive.

Unlike a disguise (which completely hides something) or a facade (which suggests something fake and grand), a veneer is specifically thin and surface-level. The real thing underneath still exists. You can see through someone's veneer when their true feelings or the real situation become obvious. A skilled woodworker values veneer as a practical technique, but when we talk about people having a veneer, we usually mean they're hiding something, and that thinness suggests the truth might show through at any moment.