disguise
Americanverb (used with object)
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disguises,
present (3rd person singular)
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disguised,
past participle, past
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disguising
present participle
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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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disguises
plural
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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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disguisednessnoun
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disguisementnoun
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disguisernoun
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predisguisenoun
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disguisableadjective
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disguisedadjective
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nondisguisedadjective
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undisguisableadjective
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undisguisedadjective
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well-disguisedadjective
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disguisedlyadverb
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undisguisedlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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disguisesimple
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disguisessimple
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have disguisedperfect
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has disguisedperfect
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am disguisingprogressive
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are disguisingprogressive
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is disguisingprogressive
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have been disguisingperfect progressive
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has been disguisingperfect progressive
Past
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disguisedsimple
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had disguisedperfect
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was disguisingprogressive
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were disguisingprogressive
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had been disguisingperfect progressive
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.
See Examples For:
What makes this episode unusually clarifying is that nobody on the winning side seems to feel much need to disguise the motive.
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
But in the latest installment from the Marvel cinematic universe, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Parker - played by Tom Holland - is not the only star in disguise.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
“Partly it’s because a humble person may be a god in disguise, but it also allows society to function. People need to travel, to trade, and everyone is at the mercy of strangers.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
The disguise, then, offers television a clean dramatic promise:
From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026
Steve, a specialist with the agency’s Technical Services Division, had agreed to prepare a false identity and disguise for Liddy.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
She disguises herself with a mask and a L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
Hine often donned disguises or pretended to be inspecting a factory.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
Researchers have identified a remarkable new spider species in Ecuador's Amazon rainforest that disguises itself as a parasitic fungus.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 17, 2026
She explained that the book opened her eyes to the "disguises" many Victorian women novelists were forced to adopt in order to be heard.
From BBC ● May 29, 2026
Did the masks signify the disguises Hamlet spoke of wearing?
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
There are plenty of other ways that our culture has disguised unhealthy behaviors, as “Maddie’s Secret” so cunningly stresses.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
It ran from the side of the home into the chauffeur’s bedroom, accessed through a disguised panel in a shower wall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
In order to learn, Sullivan, played by Joel McCrea, embarks on a road trip disguised as a tramp and all kinds of terrible things happen to him that happen to people without resources.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
"We've had to wrestle with so many things and try to understand so many things, like how could something like this even happen? Let alone disguised as a fight for women."
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
The thinly disguised hopefulness in her voice when she suggests that I stay behind.
From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day
Anthropic found that the model engaged in a behavior called “alignment faking” — deliberately disguising its true reasoning and dangerous capabilities to avoid being restricted by people.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 18, 2026
London has stables of lawyers and accountants experienced at disguising sources of wealth and who help clients obtain visas that grease the wheels of business.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 30, 2026
"But disguising palm oil as waste products like POME... has been far too easy for suppliers and traders. Verification and certification of these imports is clearly failing," Delaney said.
From Barron's ● Mar. 16, 2026
Peruvian police often use the tactics, disguising their agents in elaborate costumes on occasions such as Valentine's Day, Halloween and Christmas.
From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2026
Tess and Eliana had taken a different route, disguising themselves in the raggedy washed-out clothing of Dust Bowl victims, complete with large circular goggles and cloth-wrapped faces.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
