camouflage

noun cam·ou·flage \ ˈka-mə-ˌfläzh , -ˌfläj \

|Updated on: 19 Jul 2018

Examples: camouflage in a Sentence

Definition of camouflage

1 : the disguising especially of military equipment or installations with paint, nets, or foliage; also : the disguise so applied

2 a : concealment by means of disguise

The rabbit's white fur acts as camouflage in the snow.

b : behavior or artifice designed to deceive or hide

hiding behind a camouflage of righteous indignation

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camouflagic

play \ˌka-mə-ˈflä-zhik, -jik\ adjective

See camouflage defined for English-language learners

See camouflage defined for kids

Examples of camouflage in a Sentence

The army tanks were painted green and brown for camouflage.
The rabbit's white fur acts as a camouflage in the snow.
Rabbits use their white fur as camouflage in the snow.
Her so-called charity work was a camouflage for her own self-interest.
His tough attitude served as camouflage.

Recent Examples of camouflage from the Web

And guides increasingly take the trouble to dress their charges in camouflage for the border crossing.

— nicholas kulish, The Seattle Times, "Human smuggling cat-and-mouse game plays out beyond the U.S.-Mexico border," 9 July 2018
Button your camouflage jacket to the collar, stay low to the ground and run.

— joyce wadler, New York Times, "Have a Relaxed Airbnb Visit — but Not Too Relaxed," 7 June 2018
One wore a camouflage jacket, shorts and black shoes with white lining, while the other wore a white baseball hat, a black graphic tee, black pants and white shoes.

— hanna krueger, NOLA.com, "NOPD searching for 2 suspects, vehicle in French Quarter shooting," 20 May 2018
He was last seen wearing a camouflage jacket and black pants.

— joseph a. gambardello, Philly.com, "Warrant issued in slaying of North Philly woman," 18 May 2018
The videos show a man wearing a camouflage jacket, baseball cap, and black shoes, trying handles on several vehicles, apparently looking for unlocked doors.

— wayne k. roustan, Sun-Sentinel.com, "'Walking' car burglar hits upscale, gated community," 10 May 2018
The alleged assailant, described by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office as a medium build man wearing a camouflage jacket and blue jeans, fled before police arrived.

— everton bailey jr., OregonLive.com, "Alleged nail gun attacker who injured construction worker sought by police," 13 Apr. 2018
For the purists, try Valentino’s roomy camouflage with a tropical detail or MSGM’s coordinating Hawaiian sunset print shirt-and-short combos.

— steff yotka, Vogue, "The Spring 2019 Men’s Trend Report," 27 June 2018
Background: Louisville police hope to return camouflage prosthetic leg to owner The leg's manufacturer would not release information about the owner due to privacy concerns.

— zahria rogers, The Courier-Journal, "Missing leg found! Louisville police reunites man with prosthetic," 25 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'camouflage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of camouflage

French, from camoufler to disguise

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1916

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

camouflage Synonyms

Synonyms

costume, disguise, guise;

Related Words

domino, mask, veil, visor (also vizor), vizard;

costumery, dress, getup, outfit, rig;

coloring, cosmetic, makeup, paint;

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

camouflage

verb

Definition of camouflage

camouflaged; camouflaging

transitive verb

: to conceal or disguise by camouflage

The makeup camouflages blemishes.

intransitive verb

: to practice camouflage

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camouflageable

play \ˈka-mə-ˌflä-zhə-bəl, -jə-bəl\ adjective

See camouflage defined for English-language learners

Examples of camouflage in a Sentence

It was impossible to camouflage the facts.
camouflaged the military camp as a native village

Recent Examples of camouflage from the Web

Godwin said the snake was camouflaged in the middle of the path.

— nathan j. fish, azcentral, "'Hero' puppy takes on rattlesnake bite, saving owner, during walk," 2 July 2018
The light camouflages them against moonlight on the surface and eliminates their shadow, obscuring them from predators.

— National Geographic, "Living Fireworks, These Animals Produce Light Shows with Their Bodies," 30 June 2018
There’s growing evidence of a social camouflaging effect among girls with autism that might be preventing them from getting diagnosed.

— josh magness, miamiherald, "Girl with autism got D's on report card, dad says. So he made his own grading system," 29 June 2018
The suspects allegedly sent packages to over 100 countries, camouflaging the drugs as legal products, including additives for cement.

— chris morris, Fortune, "Authorities Seize $5.2 Million in Cryptocurrency Following Europe's Largest LSD Bust," 28 June 2018
Hovering over it all is a certain nocturnal bird of prey, whose beady eyes and camouflaged beak bear some resemblance, not coincidentally, to a cartoon of an alien.

— lily janiak, San Francisco Chronicle, "CounterPulse artists forge agency with ‘Barn Owl’," 25 May 2018
Through injuries, self-sabotage and a first-round series camouflaged by a slow-down pace, Golden State spent most of the past six months in hibernation.

— ben golliver, SI.com, "The Real Warriors Showed Up Against the Pelicans," 29 Apr. 2018
Both shows were co-created by Robert and Michelle King, married showrunners who have learned, during their years of making network television, to camouflage their freak flag as a pocket square.

— emily nussbaum, The New Yorker, "The Incendiary Verve of “The Good Fight”," 4 June 2017
Grasses, forbs, shrubs and other low-growing, leafy vegetation crucial provide crucial camouflaging cover for newborn fawns, reducing predation.

— shannon tompkins, Houston Chronicle, "Texas’ deer population would welcome good soaking," 16 June 2018

Origin and Etymology of camouflage

see ¹camouflage

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1917

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

camouflage Synonyms

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

camouflage

adjective

Definition of camouflage

: made in colors or patterns typical of camouflage

a camouflage jacket

Origin and Etymology of camouflage

see ¹camouflage

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1918

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

CAMOUFLAGE Defined for English Language Learners

camouflage

noun

Definition of camouflage for English Language Learners

: a way of hiding something (such as military equipment) by painting it or covering it with leaves or branches to make it harder to see
: the green and brown clothing that soldiers and hunters wear to make them harder to see
: something (such as color or shape) that protects an animal from attack by making the animal difficult to see in the area around it