noun
smokescreen
SMOHK-skreen
Smokescreen (noun) means a cloud of smoke used to hide troops or movement. Example: “The soldiers advanced behind a smokescreen.”
noun
1
A cloud of smoke used to hide troops or movement.
"The soldiers advanced behind a smokescreen."
2
Something used to distract from or conceal the truth.
"It was all very plausible and, as he poured out his smokescreen of words, I became fidgety for fear Fallon would be too direct with him."
— Desmond Bagley (1968)
"All that talk is just a smokescreen to disguise the fact that he has nothing to say."
"His apology was just a smokescreen to avoid real accountability."
How to use smokescreen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterally smoke used to hide something, or figuratively any distraction meant to conceal the truth.
Common pairings
put up a smokescreen
a smokescreen for
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Word forms
- Plural
- smokescreens
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The soldiers advanced behind a _____.
Etymology
From smoke plus screen.
Synonyms
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smoke screen
Rhymes for smokescreen
See all rhymes for smokescreen →Frequently asked questions
What does “smokescreen” mean?
The word “smokescreen” means a cloud of smoke used to hide troops or movement. In plain terms, literally smoke used to hide something, or figuratively any distraction meant to conceal the truth.
How do you pronounce “smokescreen”?
“Smokescreen” is pronounced SMOHK-skreen (/ˈsmoʊkˌskɹin/ in IPA).
How do you use “smokescreen” in a sentence?
Here is “smokescreen” used in a sentence: “The soldiers advanced behind a smokescreen.”
What part of speech is “smokescreen”?
“Smokescreen” is a noun.
How many meanings does “smokescreen” have?
“Smokescreen” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a cloud of smoke used to hide troops or movement.
