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• guise
  guise

  noun

  general external appearance; aspect; semblance.
• Guise
  Guise

  noun

  François de Lorraine 2nd Duc de, 1519–63, French general and statesman.

guise

¹ American  

[gahyz] / gaɪz /

noun

1. general external appearance; aspect; semblance.

   an old principle in a new guise.

   Synonyms:

   shape, form

2. assumed appearance or mere semblance.

   under the guise of friendship.

3. style of dress.

   in the guise of a shepherd.

4. Archaic. manner; mode.

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verb (used with object)

guises, present (3rd person singular) guised, past participle, past guising present participle

1. to dress; attire.

   children guised as cowboys.

verb (used without object)

guises, present (3rd person singular) guised, past participle, past guising present participle

1. Scot. and North England. to appear or go in disguise.

Guise ² American  

[geez] / giz /

noun

1. François de Lorraine 2nd Duc de, 1519–63, French general and statesman.

2. his son Henri I de Lorraine Duc de, 1550–88, French general and leader of opposition to the Huguenots.

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guise British  

/ ɡaɪz /

noun

1. semblance or pretence

   under the guise of friendship

2. external appearance in general

3. archaic manner or style of dress

4. obsolete customary behaviour or manner

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verb

1. dialect to disguise or be disguised in fancy dress

2. archaic (tr) to dress or dress up

Synonym Usage

See appearance.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• guising
  present
• guised
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• guise
  simple
• guises
  simple
• have guised
  perfect
• has guised
  perfect
• am guising
  progressive
• are guising
  progressive
• is guising
  progressive
• have been guising
  perfect progressive
• has been guising
  perfect progressive

Past

• guised
  simple
• had guised
  perfect
• was guising
  progressive
• were guising
  progressive
• had been guising
  perfect progressive

Future

• will guise
  simple
• will have guised
  perfect
• will be guising
  progressive
• will have been guising
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of guise

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English g ( u ) ise < Old French < Germanic; see wise ²: (v.) Middle English gisen, derivative of the noun

Explanation

The noun guise refers to an outward appearance that conceals the true nature of someone or something. Your classmate might chat with you under the guise of friendship, but you know she's really just looking for juicy gossip. No doubt you’ve noticed the similarity between guise and disguise. Both involve the art of deception: it’s the methods that differ. Guise is about trying on new attitudes and mannerisms, such as speaking and acting in the guise of a native in a place where you are actually a tourist. Disguise involves hiding your real identity, disappearing in the new role.

Example Sentences

Some countries in the region are welcoming the military taking on a more civilian guise, said Nicholas Coppel, a former Australian ambassador to Myanmar.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

Under the guise of “streamlining” services, this number was reduced to 31.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026

The boss will often adopt the guise that Weiss does, saying that the business needs to adapt to changing times, while offering little detail about what that means or what the new strategy looks like.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

The videos are often posted on social media under the guise of giving dating advice to other men online.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

It’s the only time I get homesick, when America lands on my doorstep in a missionary guise.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• disguise