The word Holden often uses for people he sees as fake is “phony.”
“Phony” is Holden’s central label for behavior he considers insincere, artificial, or motivated by social performance. He applies it to people at Pencey, adults in New York, entertainment figures, and even people whose actions seem respectable but emotionally dishonest.
The word reveals both Holden’s sharp sensitivity and his unreliability. He often notices genuine hypocrisy, but he also uses “phony” as a broad judgment when he feels uncomfortable, disappointed, or alienated. His criticism of others is complicated by the fact that he sometimes lies and performs roles himself.
The term is closely tied to the novel’s themes of authenticity, adolescence, and the difficult transition into adulthood. Holden’s dislike of phoniness helps explain his attachment to children, whom he associates with spontaneity and innocence.