The word "façade" has two primary meanings:
- In architecture, a façade is the front or exterior face of a building, especially the main or most important front. It is often designed to be visually appealing and sets the tone for the overall design of the structure. The term originally comes from the French word meaning "frontage" or "face." Facades can be made of various materials such as brick, stone, glass, or metal, and they play a role in aesthetics, structural support, weather resistance, and energy efficiency.
- More broadly, "façade" can mean a false, superficial, or artificial appearance that someone presents to others, which hides the true nature or feelings underneath. For example, a person might put on a happy façade while feeling sad inside.
So, figuratively, it refers to a "mask" or outward appearance that conceals what is really going on behind it.
