dissemblance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, literary, academic
Quick answer
What does “dissemblance” mean?
The act of concealing or disguising one's true thoughts, feelings, or nature.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of concealing or disguising one's true thoughts, feelings, or nature; a discrepancy between outward appearance and inner reality.
1. The quality of being dissimilar or not alike; lack of resemblance. 2. In literary or artistic contexts, a deliberate mask or false appearance that obscures a deeper truth.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. It is an equally low-frequency, formal term in both dialects.
Connotations
In both, it carries a formal, somewhat intellectual or moralistic tone, often implying a critique of hypocrisy.
Frequency
Very rare in both corpora; more likely to be encountered in formal writing, literary criticism, or academic philosophy/psychology than in speech.
Grammar
How to Use “dissemblance” in a Sentence
N of N (the dissemblance of his intentions)V (to practise) NAdj (artful) NVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in ethics discussions: 'The CEO's public dissemblance about the company's financial health eroded investor trust.'
Academic
Most common in literary theory, political science, or philosophy: 'The essay explores the theme of dissemblance in Renaissance courtly drama.'
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would be replaced by simpler terms like 'pretending' or 'lying'.
Technical
Not used in STEM fields. May appear in specialised psychological or sociological texts on deception.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dissemblance”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dissemblance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dissemblance”
- Using it to mean 'dismantling' or 'disassembling'.
- Confusing it with 'dissimilarity'.
- Mispronouncing as /daɪˈsɛm.bləns/ (the first syllable is a short 'i', not 'die').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is more specific. Lying is stating a falsehood. Dissemblance is the broader act of concealing the truth, which can involve lying, but also omission, feigning emotions, or presenting a false appearance.
'Semblance' is an outward appearance, which may or may not be true. 'Dissemblance' specifically implies that the outward appearance is false and intended to deceive.
Historically, yes, it could mean 'dissimilarity', but this sense is now rare and largely obsolete. In contemporary usage, assume it means 'deceptive concealment' unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Use it as a formal noun, often preceded by an adjective describing its nature (e.g., 'artful,' 'sheer,' 'political') and followed by an 'of' phrase indicating what is being concealed. Example: 'The investigation revealed the dissemblance of his charitable intentions.'
The act of concealing or disguising one's true thoughts, feelings, or nature.
Dissemblance is usually formal, literary, academic in register.
Dissemblance: in British English it is pronounced /dɪˈsɛm.bləns/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪˈsɛm.bləns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a dissemblance of virtue”
- “behind a dissemblance of indifference”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'DIS-SEMBL-ANCE'. It's like 'DIS-assembling' your true self and putting together a false 'SEMBL-ance' (appearance).
Conceptual Metaphor
DECEPTION IS A MASK/CONCEALING GARMENT (e.g., 'a veil of dissemblance'). REALITY IS HIDDEN (e.g., 'beneath the dissemblance').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEA likely meaning of 'dissemblance' in modern English?