mas·quer·ade
ˌma-skə-ˈrād 
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
masqueraded; masquerading
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
Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 26 Dec. 2024
The tension arose from the fact that Mike—and by proxy, Harvey—might at any moment get caught in this masquerade.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 23 Feb. 2025
Michael Serazio, Time, 28 May 2025
Trailing 1-0, nothing summed it up so well as Harry Maguire masquerading as a forward again, a Hail Mary that can only work so often.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for masquerade
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Maple and Ash Dress in masquerade attire for Maple and Ash's New Year's Eve midnight masquerade.
—Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 26 Dec. 2024
The tension arose from the fact that Mike—and by proxy, Harvey—might at any moment get caught in this masquerade.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 23 Feb. 2025
Verb
But that sounds more like a corporate cost-cutting threat just masquerading as historical inevitability.
—Michael Serazio, Time, 28 May 2025
Trailing 1-0, nothing summed it up so well as Harry Maguire masquerading as a forward again, a Hail Mary that can only work so often.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for masquerade
Cite this Entry
“Masquerade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masquerade. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
masquerade
1 of 2 noun
mas·quer·ade
ˌmas-kə-ˈrād
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share