Definition of "masquerade" in English

noun

1. An assembly or party of people wearing (usually elaborate or fanciful) masks and costumes, and amusing themselves with dancing, conversation, or other diversions.

   • I was invited to the masquerade party at their home.

2. The act of wearing a mask or dressing up in a costume for, or as if for, a masquerade ball.

3. (figuratively) An act of living under false pretenses; a concealment of something by a false or unreal show; a disguise, a pretence; also, a pretentious display.

4. (figuratively) An assembly of varied, often fanciful, things.

5. (fandom slang) A cosplay event at which costumed attendees perform skits.

6. (obsolete) A dramatic performance by actors in masks; a mask or masque.

7. (obsolete, rare) A Spanish entertainment or military exercise in which squadrons of horses charge at each other, the riders fighting with bucklers and canes.

verb

1. (intransitive) To take part in a masquerade; to assemble in masks and costumes; (loosely) to wear a disguise.

   • I’m going to masquerade as an old-fashioned pilot. What are you going to dress up as?

2. (intransitive, figuratively) To pass off as a different person or a person with qualities that one does not possess; also, to make a pretentious show of being what one is not.

   • He masqueraded as my friend until the truth finally came out.

3. (transitive, rare) To conceal (someone) with, or as if with, a mask; to disguise.