masquerade
[ mas-kuh-reyd ]
/ ˌmæs kəˈreɪd /
Save This Word!
noun
a party, dance, or other festive gathering of persons wearing masks and other disguises, and often elegant, historical, or fantastic costumes.
a costume or disguise worn at such a gathering.
false outward show; façade; pretense: a hypocrite's masquerade of virtue.
activity, existence, etc., under false pretenses: a rich man's masquerade as a beggar.
verb (used without object), mas·quer·ad·ed, mas·quer·ad·ing.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “ITS” VS. “IT’S”!
Apostrophes can be tricky; prove you know the difference between it’s and its in this crafty quiz!
Question 1 of 12
On the farm, the feed for chicks is significantly different from the roosters’; ______ not even comparable.
Origin of masquerade
OTHER WORDS FROM masquerade
mas·quer·ad·er, nounWords nearby masquerade
mas. pil., Masqat, masque, masque biliaire, masquer, masquerade, mass, massa, Massachuset, Massachusett, Massachusetts
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for masquerade
British Dictionary definitions for masquerade
masquerade
/ (ˌmæskəˈreɪd) /
noun
a party or other gathering to which the guests wear masks and costumes
the disguise worn at such a function
a pretence or disguise
verb (intr)
to participate in a masquerade; disguise oneself
to dissemble
Derived forms of masquerade
masquerader, nounWord Origin for masquerade
C16: from Spanish mascarada, from mascara mask
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