disguise

[ dis-gahyz, dih-skahyz ]

/ dɪsˈgaɪz, dɪˈskaɪz /

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See synonyms for: disguise / disguised / disguisement on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), dis·guised, dis·guis·ing.

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.

to conceal or cover up the truth or actual character of by a counterfeit form or appearance; misrepresent: to disguise one's intentions.

noun

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.

the makeup, mask, costume, or overall changed appearance of an entertainer: a clown's disguise.

the act of disguising: to speak without disguise.

the state of being disguised; masquerade: The gods appeared in disguise.

OTHER WORDS FOR disguise

2 cloak, mask, hide, dissemble.

See synonyms for disguise on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ

There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!

Question 1 of 7

True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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 guiseguise

OTHER WORDS FROM disguise

dis·guis·a·ble, adjectivedis·guis·ed·ly, adverbdis·guis·ed·ness, noundis·guis·er, noun

dis·guise·ment, nounnon·dis·guised, adjectivepre·dis·guise, noun, verb (used with object), pre·dis·guised, pre·dis·guis·ing.un·dis·guis·a·ble, adjectiveun·dis·guised, adjectiveun·dis·guis·ed·ly, adverbwell-dis·guised, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use disguise in a sentence

Naturally, life-or-death situations, clever disguises, and romantic entanglements ensue.
Everything Our Editors Loved in December|The Editors|January 8, 2021|Outside Online
I’ve tried to escape it at the restaurant, but we are having the bird in all its disguises up at Kinsley’s.
143 years of Thanksgiving coverage in The Post|Becky Krystal|November 9, 2020|Washington Post
It is already well known that there are oilrigs disguised in plain sight all over the city.
The Fiery Underground Oil Pit Eating L.A.|Geoff Manaugh|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Lossby Gary Sittser.
Book Bag: Reading Your Way Out Of Grief|Anna Whiston-Donaldson|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

For Shaftel this kind of licentious behavior amounts to “conspicuous consumption disguised as urbanity.”
Don’t Diss the Beauty of Brunch: Defending Our Favorite Meal|Tim Teeman|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Erdoğan dismissed the British officer as “an English spy disguised as an Arab.”
Turkish President Declares Lawrence of Arabia a Bigger Enemy than ISIS|Jamie Dettmer|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Democracy may deserve better than a publicity stunt disguised as a voting drive, but then again, MN-2 deserves better, too.
Bill Maher Finds the Worst Congressman in America|Ana Marie Cox|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Though the average speaker is generally limited by one type of voice, which he varies somewhat, it is not often disguised.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
Jefferson Davis disguised himself in the hood, shawl, and dress of his wife in 1865.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
Valence sent a woman, disguised as a beggar, to spy out the position; but Bruce saw through the dodge, and the spy confessed.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
In the following December he returned to Manila disguised as a seaman, and stole ashore in the crowd of stevedore labourers.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
You will stay here and play my part, and I shall slip away disguised in my clothes.
The Weight of the Crown|Fred M. White

British Dictionary definitions for disguise

disguise

/ (dɪsˈɡaɪz) /

verb

to modify the appearance or manner in order to conceal the identity of (oneself, someone, or something)

(tr) to misrepresent in order to obscure the actual nature or meaningto disguise the facts

noun

a mask, costume, or manner that disguises

the act of disguising or the state of being disguised

Derived forms of disguise

disguisable, adjectivedisguised, adjectivedisguisedly (dɪsˈɡaɪzɪdlɪ), adverbdisguiser, noun

Word Origin for disguise

C14: from Old French desguisier, from des- dis- 1 + guise manner; see guise

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with disguise

disguise

see blessing in disguise.

disguise

OTHER WORDS FOR disguise

Origin of disguise

OTHER WORDS FROM disguise

Words related to disguise

How to use disguise in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for disguise

Derived forms of disguise

Word Origin for disguise

Other Idioms and Phrases with disguise