# disguised

/dɪsˈɡaɪzd/ (US) · /dɪsɡˈaɪzd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/disguised
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. wearing a disguise

adjective · CEFR B2

wearing different clothes or changing your face so people do not know who you are.

For teachers: wearing a disguise or having an altered physical appearance to conceal one's identity.

- The famous actor walked through the park disguised in a wig and glasses.
- The detective entered the gala disguised as a waiter, hoping to observe the suspect without being recognised by the other guests.

### 2. hidden or deceptive

adjective · CEFR B2

made to look like something else so that its real meaning or purpose is hidden.

For teachers: having a deceptive outward appearance to hide the true nature or function of an object or idea.

- The bad news was delivered as a disguised compliment.
- The mobile phone tower was disguised as a tall pine tree to avoid ruining the natural look of the valley.

### 3. drunk

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Slang

an old-fashioned way to say someone is very drunk.

For teachers: a historical slang term for being intoxicated or drunk.

- In the old story, the sailor returned home quite disguised after a night at the pub.
- The 18th-century diary noted that several guests were heavily disguised by the time the final toast was proposed.

Teaching tip: This sense is archaic; modern learners should use 'drunk' or 'intoxicated' instead.

## Examples

- The king traveled through the city disguised as a beggar.
- She attended the party disguised in a heavy cloak and a silver mask so her rivals wouldn't spot her.
- The undercover agent remained disguised for several months, successfully infiltrating the organization by adopting the speech patterns and dress of a local laborer.

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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.