THE WORD FOR TODAY: POTEMKIN VILLAGE
(OK, so that's two words)

During the reign of Catherine the Great in Russia, one of her closest advisers was field marshal Grigori Potemkin, who used numerous wiles on her behalf. When Catherine toured the countryside with foreign dignitaries, Potemkin arranged to have fake villages built in advance of her visits, so as to create an illusion of prosperity. Since that time, the term "Potemkin village" has become a metaphor for things that look elaborate and impressive but in actual fact lack substance.

- John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton
From their book "Trust Us, We're Experts"