To masquerade means to pretend to be someone or something you're not, often by wearing a disguise or costume. At a masquerade ball, guests wear elaborate masks and costumes that hide their true identities. People also masquerade when they pretend to have different personalities, skills, or intentions than they actually possess.

The word often suggests deception or trickery. A con artist might masquerade as a police officer to gain people's trust. A spy might masquerade as an ordinary businessperson while secretly gathering information. In the classic fairy tale, the wolf masquerades as Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother by wearing her nightgown and cap.

Sometimes masquerading is harmless fun, like dressing up for Halloween. Other times it's serious deception. When someone says, “That's just fear masquerading as confidence,” they mean the person is hiding their real feelings behind a false front.

The noun form describes the disguise itself or the event: a masquerade can be a party where everyone wears masks and costumes.