guise

noun

1
: a form or style of dress : costume
attended the masquerade in the guise of a court jester
2
a
obsolete : manner, fashion
b
archaic : a customary way of speaking or behaving
3
a
: external appearance : semblance
The android is a machine in human guise.
b
: pretext
swindles people under the guise of friendship

Examples of guise in a Sentence

he sneaked into the castle to rescue Ivanhoe in the guise of a priest coming to give Ivanhoe his last rites she felt as though she should be wearing some sort of Germanic guise, complete with dirndl, for the fall festival featuring traditional German food and drink
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Enough Pep for Most of Us There’s no point denying it: the Bronco Sport is less powerful than its bigger sibling, which, in its Raptor guise, makes 418 hp and 440 ft lbs of torque. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 5 Dec. 2024 To elude law enforcement, the thieves have adopted the guise of delivery personnel, according to authorities. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 27 Nov. 2024 The elections promised by the junta, slated for 2025, have also been denounced both domestically and internationally as a sham that would grant the junta the guise of legitimacy but offer little actual democracy. Koh Ewe, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024 The balloons are retired every few years — and although classic characters often return in new guises, like Snoopy and Ronald McDonald, new favorites are added each year. Oscar Holland, CNN, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for guise 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gise, guise, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wīsa manner — more at wise

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of guise was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near guise

Cite this Entry

“Guise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guise. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

guise

noun
1
: a form or style of dress : costume
in the guise of a shepherd
2
: outer or disguised appearance : semblance
swindled people under the guise of friendship

Biographical Definition

Guise 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

ˈgēz,
also
ˈgwēz How to pronounce Guise (audio)
2nd Duc de 1519–1563 François de Lorraine French soldier and politician

Guise

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

3rd Duc de 1550–1588 Henri I de Lorraine French soldier and politician

More from Merriam-Webster on guise

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