The meaning of MASQUERADE is a social gathering of persons wearing masks and often fantastic costumes. How to use masquerade in a sentence. A masquerade ball (or bal masqué) is a special kind of formal ball which many participants attend in costume wearing masks.

Understanding the Context

(Compare the word "masque"—a formal written and sung court pageant.) 1. a festive gathering of people wearing masks and costumes. 2. a costume worn at such a gathering.

Key Insights

3. false outward show; pretense. 4. to represent oneself falsely. 5.

Final Thoughts

to disguise oneself. 6. to take part in a masquerade. mas`quer ad′er, n. masquerade (plural masquerades) (also attributively) An assembly or party of people wearing (usually elaborate or fanciful) masks and costumes, and amusing themselves with dancing, conversation, or other diversions. To masquerade means "to pretend to be someone else." If you masquerade as a sweet, kind-hearted person, you present that image to the world, hiding your true identity as a jerk who has rage issues.

As a verb, masquerade can also mean to dress up as someone else, in costume. Directed by Tony Award® winner Diane Paulus and produced by Randy Weiner (Sleep No More, The Box), MASQUERADE is a bold new immersive production of the world’s most haunting love story. masquerade noun (PARTY) (also masquerade ball, masquerade party) a party or dance where people wear masks (= coverings over part or all of the face) or other disguises (= clothes that hide who you are or make you look like someone else): A masquerade is known as a grand masked ball, a party, or a fun social event wherein people get to dress up in lavish attire and, understandably, wear their most elaborate masks.