# masked

/ˈmæskt/ (US) · /mˈɑːskt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. wearing a face covering

adjective · CEFR B1

wearing a mask to hide your face or protect yourself.

For teachers: wearing a mask for the purpose of disguise, protection, or ritual.

- The masked intruder fled the building before the police arrived.
- Security footage captured three masked individuals entering the vault, though their identities remained obscured by the heavy fabric of their disguises.

### 2. hidden or disguised

adjective · CEFR B2

hidden or kept secret so that people do not notice the truth.

For teachers: concealed or disguised; often used to describe emotions, symptoms, or sounds that are obscured by something else.

- Her polite smile masked her true feelings of anger.
- The patient presented with masked symptoms that made an initial diagnosis difficult for the attending physician.

### 3. animal markings

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

having a face or head that is a different colour from the rest of the body.

For teachers: possessing distinct facial markings, particularly when the anterior part of the head differs in colour from the rest of the plumage or fur.

- The masked weaver is a bird known for the black feathers on its face.
- The masked shrew is easily identified by its distinctive facial pigmentation, which contrasts sharply with its dorsal fur.

## Examples

- The masked man entered the bank quietly.
- She spoke with a masked sadness that only her closest friends were able to notice during the party.
- The study revealed that many patients presented with masked symptoms, making it difficult for doctors to provide an accurate diagnosis without further testing.

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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.