masquerade

American  

[mas-kuh-reyd] / ˌmæs kəˈreɪd /

noun

1. a party, dance, or other festive gathering of persons wearing masks and other disguises, and often elegant, historical, or fantastic costumes.

   Synonyms:

   mummery

2. a costume or disguise worn at such a gathering.

3. false outward show; façade; pretense.

   a hypocrite's masquerade of virtue.

4. activity, existence, etc., under false pretenses.

   a rich man's masquerade as a beggar.

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verb (used without object)

masqueraded, masquerading

1. to go about under false pretenses or a false character; assume the character of; give oneself out to be.

   to masquerade as a former Russian count.

2. to disguise oneself.

3. to take part in a masquerade.

masquerade British  

/ ˌmæskəˈreɪd /

noun

1. a party or other gathering to which the guests wear masks and costumes

2. the disguise worn at such a function

3. a pretence or disguise

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verb

1. to participate in a masquerade; disguise oneself

2. to dissemble

Other Word Forms

• masquerader noun

Etymology

Origin of masquerade

1580–90; earlier masquerada, mascarado, pseudo-Spanish forms of Middle French mascarade < Upper Italian mascherada; mask, -ade ¹

Example Sentences

"It's masquerading as a planet because planets also look like tiny dots orbiting nearby stars."

From Science Daily

This is not as improbable as it might seem, as there is a long history of women masquerading as men to go journeying into the world.

From Los Angeles Times

The only question left is how long she can keep up the masquerade before even her audience sees through it.

From Salon

College Football Brain is why we still have Zombie Bowl games layered on top of this 12-team playoff, as if anyone actually cares or comprehends why the quarterfinal needs to masquerade as the Cotton Bowl.

From The Wall Street Journal

A Philippine court on Thursday sentenced Alice Guo, a Chinese national who became a mayor while masquerading as a Filipina, and seven others to life in prison on human trafficking charges, state prosecutors said.

From Barron's