disguise

play

verb dis·guise \ də-ˈskīz , dis-ˈgīz also diz- \

Definition of disguise

disguised; disguising

transitive verb

1 a :to change the customary dress (see ²dress 1) or appearance of

disguised herself in a wig and glasses

b :to furnish with a false appearance or an assumed (see assume 3) identity

disguised as a beggar

2 obsolete :disfigure

3 :to obscure the existence or true state or character of :conceal

unable to disguise his true feelings

—

disguisedly

play \-ˈgīz(-ə)d-lē, -ˈkīz(-ə)d-\ adverb

—

disguisement

play \-ˈgīz-mənt, -ˈkīz-\ noun

—

disguiser

noun

See disguise defined for English-language learners

See disguise defined for kids

Examples of disguise in a Sentence

He tried to disguise his voice on the phone but I could tell it was him.
She disguised herself in a wig and glasses.
We disguised the fact that we were disappointed.

Recent Examples of disguise from the Web

At FAU, Kiffin will be a CEO disguised as a head coach.

— tim reynolds, The Seattle Times, "FAU’s Lane Kiffin, a winner on Twitter, facing big challenge," 23 Aug. 2017
According to the books, though the masks hanging in the Hall of Faces are part of how the Faceless Men disguise themselves, there is much more alchemy and blood magic involved.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "Game of Thrones: Okay, Seriously, How Does Arya’s Faceless Man Stuff Work?," 20 Aug. 2017
According to the criminal complaint, on Aug. 7, a person matching Alfaro’s description appeared at the Idaho Independent Bank in Mountain Home and was not wearing sunglasses or disguising his face.

— ruth brown, idahostatesman, "Family members turn in man accused of Boise, Meridian bank robberies," 14 Aug. 2017
And in the past day or two, a consequence of this effort has been to raise the question of whether a vehicle that has recently been rolling along the streets of Arlington, Va. is being guided by a driver disguised as a car seat.

— martin weil, Washington Post, "Driver of Arlington’s mystery van said to be disguised as car seat," 8 Aug. 2017
Boys learn to disguise their hurt and vulnerability as anger — girls, all too often, learn the opposite.

— laurie penny, Teen Vogue, "Most Women You Know Are Angry — and That’s Alright," 2 Aug. 2017
In a meeting at the Pakistani senate in December, a former interior minister insisted that the culprits in Balochistan are Indian agents disguised in Pakistani uniform.

— The Economist, "Reconciliation is not impossible, but it will be a long, slow process," 22 July 2017
A video of James disguising himself as Blaze employee named Ron went viral last year.

— SI.com, "LeBron James is behind the fastest growing restaurant chain in America," 13 July 2017
On this play, the Browns had not disguised anything presnap.

— andy benoit, The MMQB, "Every NFL Play Is a Brutal Game of Chess," 28 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of disguise

Middle English disgisen, from Anglo-French desguiser, deguiser, from des- dis- + guise guise

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

disguise Synonyms

Synonyms

camouflage, cloak, dress up, mask

Antonyms

unmask

Related Words

blanket, blot out, conceal, cover, curtain, enshroud, hide, obscure, occult, screen, shroud, veil; affect, assume, counterfeit, dissemble, dissimulate, feign, pose, pretend, sham, simulate; act, fake, impersonate, masquerade, play; cosmeticize, gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash

Near Antonyms

display, exhibit, expose, flaunt, parade, show, uncloak, unclothe, uncover, undrape, unveil; bare, betray, disclose, discover, divulge, expose, reveal

Synonym Discussion of disguise

disguise, cloak, mask mean to alter the dress or appearance of so as to conceal the identity or true nature. disguise implies a change in appearance or behavior that misleads by presenting a different apparent identity.

- disguised herself as a peasant

cloak suggests a means of hiding a movement or an intention.

- cloaked their maneuvers in secrecy

mask suggests some often obvious means of hiding or disguising something.

- smiling to mask his discontent

disguise

noun

Definition of disguise

1 :apparel assumed to conceal one's identity or counterfeit another's

The bank robber was wearing a disguise.

2 :the act of disguising

3 a :form misrepresenting the true nature of something

blessings in disguise

b :an artificial manner :pretense

threw off all disguise

See disguise defined for English-language learners

Examples of disguise in a Sentence

He wore a disguise of glasses, a fake mustache, and a cap.
The famous thief is known to be a master of disguise.

Recent Examples of disguise from the Web

More than 2,000 others have died in drug-related killings, including attacks by motorcycle-riding masked gunmen, who human rights groups allege are policemen in disguise or their civilian hit men.

— jim gomez, The Seattle Times, "Philippine churches to ring bells to protest drug killings," 20 Aug. 2017
In fact, the Budapest Memorandum, the agreement by which Ukraine gave up leftover Soviet nuclear weapons, is not a kind of NATO Article V in disguise.

— michael brendan dougherty, National Review, "Let Ukraine Defend Itself," 16 Aug. 2017
Think of it as the deeply tired male hero trope in a not very good disguise.

— anne t. donahue, Marie Claire, "No One's Talking About Women Reclaiming Crime Shows, So Let's Start, Shall We?," 26 July 2017
Under the clever disguise that seems to show curved rear side-window glass, BMW’s signature D-pillar Hofmeister kink will be intact but subtly reworked, as on the all-new X3.

— clifford attiyeh, Car and Driver, "2019 BMW X5 M Spied," 20 July 2017
If so, what better disguise than one of his lieutenants.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "Game of Thrones Season 7 Premiere: The Massive Ramifications of Arya’s Showstopping Scene," 16 July 2017
Elsewhere around Los Angeles, people have tried all sorts of disguises to conceal their oil infrastructure.

— christopher reynolds, latimes.com, "See the pumpjacks (and the sea) from high on Signal Hill," 9 July 2017
Is all the talk about health policy really just a disguise, as many liberals suspect, for an agenda of high-end tax cuts and low-end spending cuts that have little or nothing to do with Obamacare?

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Some Republicans Dislike Health Insurance So Much They Don’t Mind If You Lose It," 8 July 2017
Here are three thoughts on El Tri's victory A blessing in disguise?

— luis miguel echegaray, SI.com, "Mexico advances to Confederations Cup semis, but adjustments remain for Osorio," 24 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of disguise

see ¹disguise

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

disguise Synonyms

Synonyms

camouflage, costume, guise

Related Words

domino, mask, veil, visor (also vizor), vizard; costumery, dress, getup, outfit, rig; coloring, cosmetic, makeup, paint

Near Antonyms

bluntness, candidness, candor, directness, forthrightness, frankness, openheartedness, outspokenness, plainspokenness, sincerity, straightforwardness; artlessness, genuineness, naïveté (also naivete or naiveté)

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

DISGUISE Defined for English Language Learners

disguise

play

verb

Definition of disguise for English Language Learners

: to change the usual appearance, sound, taste, etc., of (someone or something) so that people will not recognize that person or thing
: to hide (something) so that it will not be seen or noticed

disguise

noun

Definition of disguise for English Language Learners

: clothes or other things that you wear so that people will not recognize you
: the act of changing your appearance so that people will not recognize you

DISGUISE Defined for Kids

disguise

play

verb dis·guise \ də-ˈskīz , dis-ˈgīz \

Definition of disguise for Students

disguised; disguising

1 :to change the looks or sound of to avoid being recognized

He disguised his voice on the phone.

2 :to keep from revealing

She disguised her true feelings.

disguise

noun

Definition of disguise for Students

1 :clothing worn to avoid being recognized

2 :an outward appearance that hides what something really is

a blessing in disguise

Learn More about disguise

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for disguise Spanish Central: Translation of disguise Nglish: Translation of disguise for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of disguise for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up disguise? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

disguise

Definition of disguise

disguisedly

disguisement

disguiser

Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd

Examples of disguise in a Sentence

Recent Examples of disguise from the Web

Origin and Etymology of disguise

disguise Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of disguise

disguise

Definition of disguise

Examples of disguise in a Sentence

Recent Examples of disguise from the Web

Origin and Etymology of disguise

disguise Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Clothing Terms

Phrases Related to DISGUISE

Related Phrases

DISGUISE Defined for English Language Learners

disguise

Definition of disguise for English Language Learners

disguise

Definition of disguise for English Language Learners

DISGUISE Defined for Kids

disguise

Definition of disguise for Students

disguise

Definition of disguise for Students

Learn More about disguise

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066