disguise
Americanverb (used with object)
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to change the appearance or guise of so as to conceal identity or mislead, as by means of deceptive garb.
The king was disguised as a peasant.
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to conceal or cover up the truth or actual character of by a counterfeit form or appearance; misrepresent.
to disguise one's intentions.
noun
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that which disguises; something that serves or is intended for concealment of identity, character, or quality; a deceptive covering, condition, manner, etc..
Noble words can be the disguise of base intentions.
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the makeup, mask, costume, or overall changed appearance of an entertainer.
a clown's disguise.
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the act of disguising.
to speak without disguise.
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the state of being disguised; masquerade.
The gods appeared in disguise.
verb
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to modify the appearance or manner in order to conceal the identity of (oneself, someone, or something)
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(tr) to misrepresent in order to obscure the actual nature or meaning
to disguise the facts
noun
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a mask, costume, or manner that disguises
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the act of disguising or the state of being disguised
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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undisguisedlyadverb
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disguisedadjective
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well-disguisedadjective
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undisguisedadjective
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undisguisableadjective
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disguisedlyadverb
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nondisguisedadjective
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disguisementnoun
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disguisernoun
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disguisableadjective
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predisguisenoun
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disguisednessnoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have disguisedperfect
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has disguisedperfect 3rd person singular
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are disguisingprogressive
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am disguisingprogressive 1st person singular
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is disguisingprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been disguisingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been disguisingperfect progressive
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disguisingparticiple
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disguisessingular 3rd person
Past
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had disguisedperfect
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was disguisingprogressive singular
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were disguisingprogressive plural
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had been disguisingperfect progressive
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disguisedparticiple
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disguisedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of disguise
1275–1325; Middle English disg ( u ) isen < Anglo-French, Old French de ( s ) guiser, equivalent to des- dis- 1 + -guiser, derivative of guise guise
Explanation
A disguise is something you put on so no one recognizes you. It also can be used as a verb. You can disguise yourself with a wig and mustache; that's a great disguise. Disguise can be used anytime you're talking about concealing or hiding something. Most of the time we think of a disguise as something you wear, but you can also disguise your feelings. Criminals might disguise their intentions. You can also use the word to describe something that seems to be one thing, but turns out to be another. You missed the plane, but then the plane crashed. That's a blessing in disguise.
Vocabulary lists containing disguise
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
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Legend
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creation myths
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That reaction informed showrunner Patrick Macmanus’ approach to rendering “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” for Peacock, however.
From Salon • Oct. 29, 2025
She has twice been a Pulitzer Prize finalist and is the author of six books, including “Mercies in Disguise: A Story of Hope, a Family's Genetic Destiny, and The Science That Saved Them.”
From New York Times • Jul. 22, 2023
They also hope to raise enough money to start a food truck business Already they know the name: Fries in Disguise.
From Washington Post • Jul. 30, 2021
Spies in Disguise Will Smith and Tom Holland provide voices in this 2019 computer-animated spy comedy directed by Troy Quane and Nick Bruno.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 4, 2020
“Go home, grab your children, and get out, get out of the country if you’ve got to. Disguise yourselves and run. You’ve seen how it is, you won’t get anything like a fair hearing here.”
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
