# charade

/ʃɝˈeɪd/ (US) · /ʃɐɹˈɑːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/charade
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a deception or pretence

noun · CEFR B2

a situation where people pretend something is true or serious, even though everyone knows it is a lie.

For teachers: an absurd or hollow pretence; a deceptive act that is often transparent or obviously false.

- The meeting was a complete charade because the decision had already been made.
- The diplomatic negotiations were dismissed as a charade by critics who argued that both sides had already committed to military action.

### 2. the game

noun · CEFR B1

a game where one player acts out a word or phrase without speaking, and the others try to guess it.

For teachers: a parlour game in which players pantomime the individual syllables of a word or phrase for others to identify.

- We spent the evening playing charades and laughing at my brother's bad acting.
- During the holiday party, the family gathered in the living room for a competitive round of charades.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form 'charades' when referring to the game itself.

### 3. a riddle

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

an old type of word puzzle where clues are given for each part of a word.

For teachers: a genre of riddle where clues are provided for each syllable of a word followed by a clue for the whole.

- The Victorian book contained several complex charades for the readers to solve.
- The author included a clever charade within the text, challenging the reader to decipher the hidden name through a series of puns.

### 4. to pretend or gesture

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to act something out or pretend to do something.

For teachers: to perform or act out in the manner of a charade; to engage in a pretence.

- He charaded his way through the interview, hoping they wouldn't notice his lack of experience.
- She charaded her indifference with such skill that even her closest friends were convinced she no longer cared about the outcome.

## Examples

- The meeting was a complete charade to hide the company's real problems.
- The politician's speech was a charade, as he avoided answering any direct questions from the press.
- The entire diplomatic process was a charade, with both sides merely performing for the international media while the real negotiations took place behind closed doors.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.