masquerade

1 of 2

noun

mas·​quer·​ade ˌma-skə-ˈrād How to pronounce masquerade (audio)
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

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
In the spirit of the masquerade, the Gould pseudonym adds to the allure of mystery – and the joy of discovery. Max Chapnick, The Conversation, 7 Dec. 2023 The city enforced a law banning masks after concerns of Black people anonymously sneaking into white masquerade balls. Cierra Chenier, Essence, 12 Feb. 2024 Femininity was understood to be a cultural construct, a masquerade, and Sherman’s photographs were considered exemplary of this turn. Nancy Princenthal, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2024 Jab Jab The Jab Jab masquerade is associated with resistance and freedom. Melissa Noel, Essence, 13 Feb. 2024 The celebration featured an ice palace, a masquerade, fireworks and sporting competitions. Elizabeth Djinis, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024 On the evening of Nov. 28, 1966, the eccentric author of Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood gathered all of his equally fabulous friends of New York high society for a lavish masquerade ball at Manhattan's Plaza Hotel. Nick Romano, EW.com, 8 Feb. 2024 Monk is left to decide whether to reveal his true self or maintain his masquerade. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2024 After a screening at the theater at the Museum of Modern Art, the cast and crew of the FX show (debuting January 31) made their way a few blocks north to the hotel, the scene of Capote’s famous Black and White Ball—a party as famous as the guests that attended in masquerade in 1966. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 24 Jan. 2024
Verb
Young men dabbling in revolutionary politics and a photographer with a bent for blackmail add complexity to the plot, as do a pair of foxes who masquerade as attractive gentlemen. Alida Becker, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2024 This stubbornness, masquerading under the pretense of civic duty, stands in stark, almost jarring contrast to the forward-thinking pragmatism that is indispensably needed for a meaningful and enduring urban transformation. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2024 The country singer gained a new generation of fans as Robby Ray Stewart, father of his daughter's Miley Stewart, a global pop star masquerading as a regular teenager residing in Malibu, on the teen series that ran between 2006 and 2011. EW.com, 8 Feb. 2024 Following the charges, the Barnetts shared their side of the story: The couple alleged that Natalia was an adult masquerading as a child. Lynsey Eidell, Peoplemag, 2 Jan. 2024 In the case of one Michigan 17-year-old in spring 2022, three men masqueraded online as a young woman to procure explicit images from the teen. Teresa Huizar, Sun Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2024 There’s too much information to digest, too much misinformation masquerading as fact, too little clarity about what’s going on in the world. The Arizona Republic, 7 Jan. 2024 Migrants heading to the United States share tips and success stories on social media, and smugglers masquerading as travel guides tout their services. Miriam Jordan, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2024 Prevents the use of deceptive websites and bad actors masquerading as legitimate sellers. Jem Aswad, Variety, 8 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'masquerade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of masquerade was in 1587

Dictionary Entries Near masquerade

Cite this Entry

“Masquerade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masquerade. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

masquerade

1 of 2 noun
mas·​quer·​ade ˌmas-kə-ˈrād How to pronounce masquerade (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on masquerade

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