noun
charade
shuh-RAHD
noun
1
An act or pretence that is obvious and unconvincing, meant to create a false impression.
"The whole meeting was a charade — the decision had already been made."
How to Use Charade
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA transparent pretence that fools no one.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "charades" (the party guessing game) — a "charade" (singular) usually means a fake performance or deception.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a political charade
keep up the charade
the whole charade
Word Forms
charaded past tense, charades plural, charades singular
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The whole meeting was a _____ — the decision had already been made.
Etymology
From French charade, probably from Occitan charrada ("chat, chatter"), from charrar ("to chat").