Masquerade definition

măskə-rād
masqueraded masquerades masquerading
See word origin
Frequency:
To wear a mask or disguise, as at a masquerade.

She masqueraded as a shepherd.

verb
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The definition of a masquerade is a fancy costume party where the guests wear masks, or to live or act in a false way.

An example of a masquerade is the ball described in Edgar Allen Poe's short story The Masque of the Red Death.

An example of a masquerade is hiding the fact that you have two pets from your landlord.

noun
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Masquerade is defined as to wear a disguise or pretend to be someone else.

An example of to masquerade is wearing a costume.

An example of to masquerade is pretending to be a guest at a wedding you're crashing.

verb
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A costume party at which masks are worn; a masked ball.
noun
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To go about as if in disguise; have or put on a deceptive appearance.

The stowaway masqueraded as a crew member.

verb
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A ball or party at which masks and fancy costumes or disguises are worn.
noun
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A costume for such a ball or party.
noun
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A disguise, false show, or pretense.
noun
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A living or acting under false pretenses.
noun
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To take part in a masquerade.
verb
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To live or act under false pretenses.
verb
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A party or assembly of people wearing masks, and amusing themselves with dancing, conversation, or other diversions.

In courtly balls and midnight masquerades - Alexander Pope.

noun
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Acting or living under false pretenses; concealment of something by a false or unreal show; pretentious show; disguise.

I was invited to the masquerade at their home.

That masquerade of misrepresentation which invariably accompanied the political eloquence of Rome - Thomas de Quincey.

noun
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A Spanish diversion on horseback.
noun
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(intransitive) To assemble in masks; to take part in a masquerade.

I'm going to masquerade as the wikipede. What are you going to dress up as?

verb
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(intransitive) To frolic or disport in disguise; to make a pretentious show of being what one is not.

He masqueraded as my friend until the truth finally came out.

A freak took an ass in the head, and he goes into the woods, masquerading up and down in a lion's skin - Roger L'Estrange.

verb
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To conceal with masks; to disguise.

To masquerade vice - Killingbeck.

verb
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A costume for such a party or ball.
noun
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A disguise or false outward show; a pretense.

A masquerade of humility.

noun
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An involved scheme; a charade.
noun
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
masquerade
Plural:
masquerades

Origin of masquerade

  • French mascarade from Italian mascarata variant of mascherata from Old Italian maschera mask mask

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From French mascarade (Spanish mascarada), from Italian mascarata (mascherata). See “mask".

    From Wiktionary

Masquerade Sentence Examples

  • She dyed her hair pink to masquerade her grey strands.

  • He wanted to masquerade his feelings for the woman.

  • They all wore masks for the masquerade party.

  • She told everyone she was out of town during the week to masquerade that she was unemployed.

  • They all removed their masks at midnight, so the dance was no longer a masquerade party.

More sentences

Related articles

Words near masquerade in the Dictionary