masquerade

[ mas-kuh-reyd ]

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.

verb (used without object)

, mas·quer·ad·ed, mas·quer·ad·ing.

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

/ 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

verb

1. to participate in a masquerade; disguise oneself
2. to dissemble

Derived Forms

• ˌmasquerˈader, noun

Other Words From

• masquer·ader noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of masquerade¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of masquerade¹

C16: from Spanish mascarada, from mascara mask

Example Sentences

That move not only turned out to be a strategic miscalculation, as pandemic-panicked voters turned to the more centrist Biden, but for Harris it was a masquerade.

From Los Angeles Times

Born in October 1989, Rich Homie Quan was the oldest of three siblings, and was raised in a single-parent home, according to Atlanta gig venue, Masquerade.

From BBC

The story and the website it originally appeared on share striking similarities with a network of fake news websites that masquerade as US local news outlets, which BBC Verify has previously extensively reported on.

From BBC

The codes direct unsuspecting users to fraudulent websites that often attempt to masquerade as sites affiliated with government agencies or banks, according to the USPIS.

From Los Angeles Times

His self-love is a theatrical spectacle, a masquerade of grandeur.

From Salon