charade

[ shuh-reyd; especially British shuh-rahd ]
/ ʃəˈreɪd; especially British ʃəˈrɑd /

noun

charades, (used with a singular verb) a game in which the players are typically divided into two teams, members of which take turns at acting out in pantomime a word, phrase, title, etc., which the members of their own team must guess.
a word or phrase acted out in this game.
a blatant pretense or deception, especially something so full of pretense as to be a travesty.

Origin of charade

1770–80; < French < Provençal charrad(o) entertainment, equivalent to charr(á) to chat, chatter (from imitative root) + -ado -ade1

Example sentences from the Web for charade

British Dictionary definitions for charade

charade
/ (ʃəˈrɑːd) /

noun

an episode or act in the game of charades
mainly British an absurd act; travesty