masquerade

[ mas-kuh-reyd ]
/ ˌmæs kəˈreɪd /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR masquerade ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a party, dance, or other festive gathering of persons wearing masks and other disguises, and often elegant, historical, or fantastic costumes.
a costume or disguise worn at such a gathering.
false outward show; façade; pretense: a hypocrite's masquerade of virtue.
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.

Origin of masquerade

1580–90; earlier masquerada, mascarado, pseudo-Spanish forms of Middle French mascarade < Upper Italian mascherada; see mask, -ade1

OTHER WORDS FROM masquerade

mas·quer·ad·er, noun

Words nearby masquerade

maspero, masqat, masque, masque biliaire, masquer, masquerade, mass, mass affluent, mass book, mass card, mass defect

Words related to masquerade

show, color, mask, circus, revel, costume, facade, impersonation, deception, pretense, cloak, imposture, festivity, screen, pose, front, veil, cover-up, carnival, cover

Example sentences from the Web for masquerade

British Dictionary definitions for masquerade

masquerade
/ (ˌmæskəˈreɪd) /

noun

a party or other gathering to which the guests wear masks and costumes
the disguise worn at such a function
a pretence or disguise

verb (intr)

to participate in a masquerade; disguise oneself
to dissemble

Derived forms of masquerade

masquerader, noun

Word Origin for masquerade

C16: from Spanish mascarada, from mascara mask