noun
masquerade
mas-kuh-RAYD
Masquerade (noun) means a party or ball where guests wear masks and costumes. Example: “They danced the night away at the Venetian masquerade.”
noun
1
A party or ball where guests wear masks and costumes.
"They danced the night away at the Venetian masquerade."
"Tickets to the masquerade sold out within days."
2
A false show or pretence that conceals the truth.
"His friendliness was just a masquerade to win her trust."
verb
1
To pretend to be someone or something one is not.
"The scammer masqueraded as a bank employee."
How to use masquerade
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA costume ball, or more broadly, a deceptive pretence.
Common pairings
masquerade ball
masquerade as
a masquerade of
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Word forms
- Plural
- masquerades
- Third person singular
- masquerades
- Past tense
- masqueraded
Fill the gap
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They danced the night away at the Venetian _____.
Etymology
From French mascarade, from Italian mascherata, ultimately from the same root as "mask."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for masquerade
See all rhymes for masquerade →Frequently asked questions
What does “masquerade” mean?
The word “masquerade” means a party or ball where guests wear masks and costumes. In plain terms, a costume ball, or more broadly, a deceptive pretence.
How do you pronounce “masquerade”?
“Masquerade” is pronounced mas-kuh-RAYD (/ˌmæskəˈɹeɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “masquerade” in a sentence?
Here is “masquerade” used in a sentence: “They danced the night away at the Venetian masquerade.”
What part of speech is “masquerade”?
Depending on how it is used, “masquerade” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “masquerade” come from?
The word “masquerade” comes from French. From French mascarade, from Italian mascherata, ultimately from the same root as "mask.".
How many meanings does “masquerade” have?
“Masquerade” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a party or ball where guests wear masks and costumes.
