1
: a thin sheet of a material: such as
a
: a layer of wood of superior value or excellent grain to be glued to an inferior wood
b
: any of the thin layers bonded together to form plywood
c
: a plastic or porcelain coating bonded to the surface of a cosmetically imperfect tooth
2
: a protective or ornamental facing (as of brick or stone)
veneered; veneering; veneers
1
: to overlay or plate (a surface, as of a common sort of wood) with a thin layer of finer wood for outer finish or decoration
broadly
: to face with a material giving a superior surface
2
: to cover over with a veneer
especially
: to conceal (something, such as a defect of character) under a superficial and deceptive attractiveness
veneerer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of veneer in a Sentence
Noun
a wall with a stone veneer
a dresser with mahogany veneer
Verb
The cabinet was veneered in oak.
Recent Examples on the Web
Judy Berman, TIME, 28 June 2024
But hanging on the coattails of the new are often people who see it as an opportunity to add a veneer of excitement and opportunity to what is just a scheme.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 May 2024
Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2023
And if Psyche does have a rocky mantle, ferrovolcanic seeps could have veneered it with metal from the asteroid’s core.
—Michael Greshko, National Geographic, 18 Sep. 2019
See all Example Sentences for veneer 
Noun
In this iteration of the show, the veneers are whiter, the tans are faker, and the McMansions are even more supersized; plus, Jason says bye-bye to Brett and serves as the sole Oppenheim brother on set.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 28 June 2024
But hanging on the coattails of the new are often people who see it as an opportunity to add a veneer of excitement and opportunity to what is just a scheme.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 May 2024
Verb
Your table is almost certainly veneered, meaning that the top has a thin layer of beautiful wood glued to a base material, which could be plywood or particleboard.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2023
And if Psyche does have a rocky mantle, ferrovolcanic seeps could have veneered it with metal from the asteroid’s core.
—Michael Greshko, National Geographic, 18 Sep. 2019
See all Example Sentences for veneer
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'veneer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near veneer
Cite this Entry
“Veneer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/veneer. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
veneer
1 of 2 noun
ve·neer
və-ˈni(ə)r 
1
: a thin layer of wood bonded to other wood usually to provide a finer surface or a stronger structure
2
: a protective or ornamental facing (as of brick)
veneer
2 of 2 verb
: to cover with a veneer
Medical Definition
veneer
noun
ve·neer
və-ˈni(ə)r
: a plastic or porcelain coating bonded to the surface of a cosmetically imperfect tooth
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