masquerade

1 of 2

noun

mas·​quer·​ade ˌma-skə-ˈrād 

1

a

: a social gathering of persons wearing masks and often fantastic costumes

b

: a costume for wear at such a gathering

2

: an action or appearance that is mere disguise or show

masquerade

2 of 2

verb

masqueraded; masquerading

intransitive verb

1

a

: to disguise oneself

also : to go about disguised

b

: to take part in a masquerade

2

: to assume the appearance of something one is not

masquerader noun

Synonyms

Noun

• act
• airs
• charade
• disguise
• facade
• façade
• front
• guise
• playacting
• pose
• pretense
• pretence
• put-on
• semblance
• show

Verb

• act
• impersonate
• personate
• play
• pose (as)

Examples of masquerade in a Sentence

Noun

She could not keep up the masquerade any longer.

although she was deeply bored, she maintained a masquerade of polite interest as her guest droned on

Verb

He was masquerading under a false name.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Her ticket to the masquerade got lost in the shawl vault. —Devon Ivie, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2024

To keep with the theme of the costume party, King Charles' niece carried a white Venetian-style masquerade mask and tied an oversized bow over her growing baby bump. —Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 8 Oct. 2024

Verb

Without that foundation, Myrick says, businesses are selling little more than the chance to talk to a stranger masquerading as a friend. —Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 22 Nov. 2024

Can-Am had flown me to this pizza oven masquerading as a state to ride both of its new electric bikes, the dual-sport Origin ($14,999 and up) and the naked Pulse ($13,999 and up). —Roberto Baldwin, WIRED, 24 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French, from Old Italian dialect mascarada, from Old Italian maschera mask

First Known Use

Noun

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

masquerade

1 of 2 noun

mas·​quer·​ade ˌmas-kə-ˈrād 

1

: a party (as a dance) at which people wear masks and often fantastic costumes

2

: an action or appearance that is only a disguise or outward show : pose

masquerade

2 of 2 verb

masqueraded; masquerading

1

: to take part in a masquerade

2

: to assume the appearance of something one is not : pose

masquerader noun