# masquerade

/ˌmæskɝˈeɪd/ (US) · /mˈæskwəɹˌeɪd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. costume party

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a formal party or dance where everyone wears masks and fancy clothes.

For teachers: a social gathering, typically a ball, where participants wear elaborate costumes and masks.

- The charity hosted a grand masquerade where guests wore beautiful gold masks.
- The annual masquerade at the embassy required all attendees to remain masked until the stroke of midnight, adding an air of mystery to the gala.

### 4. cosplay performance

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

an event where fans dress up as characters and perform short plays or dances.

For teachers: a competitive event at a fan convention where costumed participants perform skits or choreographed routines.

- We spent months rehearsing our dance for the anime masquerade.
- The convention's masquerade featured high-production skits that showcased both craftsmanship and theatrical talent.

## Examples

- The guests arrived at the masquerade in beautiful silk masks.
- The spy's entire life was a masquerade designed to gain the trust of high-ranking officials.
- What began as a simple masquerade for the festival soon evolved into a complex web of mistaken identities and unintended romantic entanglements.

---

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.