masquerade

[ mas-kuh-reyd ]
/ ˌmæs kəˈreɪd /

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

Example sentences from the Web for masquerading

British Dictionary definitions for masquerading

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