masquerade: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, literary, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “masquerade” mean?
A party, dance, or other social event where people wear masks and costumes to conceal their identities.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A party, dance, or other social event where people wear masks and costumes to conceal their identities; a deceptive appearance or false show.
A form of pretense or deception where someone or something appears to be different from what they truly are; a role or character assumed to conceal one's true identity or intentions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning. Both UK and US use the term for costume events and figurative deception. The noun is slightly more common in US English for events.
Connotations
Connotes elegance, mystery, or deliberate deceit in both varieties. The phrase 'masquerade ball' has stronger historical/aristocratic connotations in UK English.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties. More common in written than spoken English.
Grammar
How to Use “masquerade” in a Sentence
[subject] masquerade as [noun phrase]the masquerade of [noun phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “masquerade” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He has been masquerading as a qualified solicitor for years.
- The pop-up shop was just a front masquerading as a legitimate business.
American English
- The company was accused of masquerading as an eco-friendly brand.
- She didn't want to masquerade as someone she wasn't.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form.
American English
- No standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- Not a standard adjective form. Use 'masquerade' as a noun modifier: 'masquerade costume', 'masquerade theme'.
American English
- Not a standard adjective form. Use 'masquerade' as a noun modifier: 'masquerade party', 'masquerade ball'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically for deceptive business practices or misleading corporate images.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, sociology, and psychology to discuss identity, performance, and social deception.
Everyday
Most commonly refers to a costume party or describing someone's false behavior.
Technical
Used in cybersecurity for 'masquerade attacks' where an entity pretends to be another.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “masquerade”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “masquerade”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “masquerade”
- Incorrect preposition: 'masquerade like' (use 'as'). Confusing verb and noun forms: 'His masquerade as a doctor' vs. 'He masquerades as a doctor'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. When referring to a costume party or ball, it is neutral or positive. The negative connotation applies to the figurative meaning of deception.
'Masquerade' often implies a sustained performance or role for deception, sometimes in a social context. 'Disguise' is more general, referring to any means of altering appearance to conceal identity, and is less formal.
Rarely. The verb is almost always followed by 'as' to introduce the false identity (e.g., 'masquerade as an expert'). Intransitive use ('He spent the evening masquerading.') is possible but less common.
A type of cyber attack where a person or program successfully pretends to be another by falsifying data, to gain an illegitimate advantage.
A party, dance, or other social event where people wear masks and costumes to conceal their identities.
Masquerade is usually formal, literary, journalistic in register.
Masquerade: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmæskəˈreɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmæskəˈreɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “masquerade as something/someone”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MASk at a pARADE: a MAS-quer-ADE.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE/IDENTITY IS A PERFORMANCE, DECEPTION IS WEARING A MASK.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'masquerade' LEAST likely to be used?