guise
n. C / U C1 Advanced US //ˈɡaɪz// UK //ɡˈaɪz// guise
n. the way someone or something looks, especially when it is meant to hide the truth. You use this when someone is pretending to be something they are not.
n. an external appearance or manner of presentation, typically concealing the true nature of something.
He visited the office in the guise of a health inspector.
The company introduced the new tracking software under the guise of improving employee safety.
The dictator often spoke to the international press in the guise of a humble reformer, though his domestic policies remained as repressive as ever.
Usage
Commonly used in the singular with the preposition 'in' or 'under'.