definitions

masquerade

[ mas-kuh-reyd ]
/ ˌmæs kəˈreɪd /
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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.

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RELATED WORDS

show, color, mask, circus, revel, costume, facade, impersonation, deception, pretense, cloak, imposture, festivity, screen, pose, front, veil, cover-up, carnival, cover

Nearby words

maspero, masqat, masque, masque biliaire, masquer, masquerade, mass, mass affluent, mass book, mass card, mass defect

Origin of masquerade

1580–90; earlier masquerada, mascarado, pseudo-Spanish forms of Middle French mascarade < Upper Italian mascherada; see mask, -ade1

Related forms

mas·quer·ad·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples 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

masquerader, noun

Word 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