Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Potemkin, Potyomkin / pɒˈtɛmkɪn paˈtjɔmkin/
  1. Grigori Aleksandrovich ( ɡriˈɡɔrij alɪkˈsandrəvitʃ ). 1739–91, Russian soldier and statesman; lover of Catherine II, whose favourite he remained until his death, and who is reputed to have erected sham villages along the route of the Empress's 1787 tour of Crimea
  2. apparently impressive but actually sham or artificial: North Korea's Potemkin hospital
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
Po•tëm•kin  (pō tem′kin, pə-; Russ. pu tyôm′kyin),USA pronunciation n. 
    Prince Gri•go•ri A•le•ksan•dro•vich  (gri gôr′ē al′ig zan′drə vich, -zän′-; Russ. gryi gô′ryē u lyi ksän′drə vyich),USA pronunciation 1739–91, Russian statesman and favorite of Catherine II.
'Potemkin' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Potemkin village - Potyomkin

Forum discussions with the word(s) "Potemkin" in the title:


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