guise

noun

ˈgīz 

1

: a form or style of dress : costume

attended the masquerade in the guise of a court jester

2

a

obsolete : manner, fashion

b

archaic : a customary way of speaking or behaving

3

a

: external appearance : semblance

The android is a machine in human guise.

b

: pretext

swindles people under the guise of friendship

Synonyms

• act
• airs
• charade
• disguise
• facade
• façade
• front
• masquerade
• playacting
• pose
• pretense
• pretence
• put-on
• semblance
• show

Examples of guise in a Sentence

he sneaked into the castle to rescue Ivanhoe in the guise of a priest coming to give Ivanhoe his last rites

she felt as though she should be wearing some sort of Germanic guise, complete with dirndl, for the fall festival featuring traditional German food and drink

Recent Examples on the Web

At a starting price of $270,000, buyers can indulge their inner Steve McQueen with their own late-1960s-style Mustang tribute, available in fastback or convertible guise. —Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 13 July 2024

Chappell Roan just nailed it with this one, uncomfortably honest in any guise. —Jennifer Culp, Them, 26 June 2024

While there are still a few original Peels around, the brand did see a minor resurgence in the early 21st century, both in petrol and electric guise. —Alex Goy, Ars Technica, 27 May 2024

The marijuana industry uses arguments about racial equity as a guise to advance its financial interests. —Kevin A. Sabet, Baltimore Sun, 30 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gise, guise, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wīsa manner — more at wise

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing guise

• in the guise of
• under the guise of

Kids Definition

guise

noun

ˈgīz 

1

: a form or style of dress : costume

in the guise of a shepherd

2

: outer or disguised appearance : semblance

swindled people under the guise of friendship

Biographical Definition

Guise 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

ˈgēz,

also

ˈgwēz 

2nd Duc de 1519–1563 François de Lorraine French soldier and politician

Guise

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

3rd Duc de 1550–1588 Henri I de Lorraine French soldier and politician