masquerade
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.
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.
to disguise oneself.
to take part in a masquerade.
Origin of masquerade
1Other words for masquerade
Other words from masquerade
- mas·quer·ad·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use masquerade in a sentence
Having reviewed anti-Israeli agitprop masquerading as theater, I was prepared to join critics in hating The Death of Klinghoffer.
But this is Clinton-era outrage: political motivations masquerading as moral opprobrium.
Most disputes about music in the current day are actually disagreements about lifestyle masquerading as critical judgments.
Music Criticism Has Degenerated Into Lifestyle Reporting | Ted Gioia | March 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe attackers were, in fact, German troops masquerading as Poles.
Invaders and the Lies They Tell From Nazi Germany to Russia and the US | Malcolm Jones | March 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThere was the jab at a blue-haired Liza Minnelli, claiming she was a man in drag masquerading as the Oscar winning legend.
Surprise! Ellen DeGeneres is the Best Oscars Host in a Decade | Marlow Stern | March 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
In Italy, on the contrary, all the world is continually occupied in masquerading in some way or other.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsRuefully Aristide asked himself the question: why had the Mayor not taken him into the confidence of his masquerading escapade?
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. LockeEven cats are now used for fur, usually masquerading under some other name.
A Civic Biology | George William HunterIt's on Earth now, and on the other planets, down in the storage areas of our big cities, masquerading as rats.
Student Body | Floyd L. WallaceIt looked like a piece of masquerading more than the interrogation of three prisoners.
British Dictionary definitions for masquerade
/ (ˌmæskəˈreɪd) /
a party or other gathering to which the guests wear masks and costumes
the disguise worn at such a function
a pretence or disguise
to participate in a masquerade; disguise oneself
to dissemble
Origin of masquerade
1Derived forms of masquerade
- masquerader, noun
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
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