Something that is false, fake, or phony and which is claimed to be genuine but isn't: Dina's sham illness was intended to gain sympathy from her colleagues at work.

1. Anything that is not what it appears to be and which is meant to trick or to deceive people: The press claims that the woman's trial was a sham.
2. Someone who deceives people by pretending to be a particular kind of person, to have a particular skill, or produce certain products, etc.: There were many who thought the Congressman was telling the truth, but then his sham was exposed on the social website.