n.
1 masked ball, masquerade ball, costume party, ballo in maschera, bal masqué:
He went to the masquerade as Lorenzo di Medici.
2 disguise, deception, pose, dissimulation, bluff, subterfuge, false show, outward show, fakery, imposture, play-acting, false front, cover-up, camouflage, Colloq act, front, Slang put-on:
How long will she continue her masquerade as a wealthy widow?
v.
3 Usually, masquerade as. pretend (to be), pass oneself off (as), impersonate, simulate, pose (as), imitate, mimic:
He is a conservative masquerading as a liberal to garner votes.