Words / B2

dis-GYZ/dɪsˈɡaɪz/

To disguise is to change how something looks, or to hide its true nature: disguise yourself as; barely disguised contempt. Hide is wider; conceal is a close formal twin. A polite letter may not disguise a fail. As a noun: in disguise. Do not use it for a simple typo cover-up — that is conceal or omit.

Meaning

To change appearance, or to hide the true nature of something.

Examples

• “Polite wording did not disguise the fail on the inspection.”
• “The inspector arrived in disguise, which is the noun phrase.”

Good to know

disguise something as; in disguise; a thinly / barely disguised. Close: conceal. Wider: hide. Reports and reviews. Noun and verb — same spelling.

Near in meaning

conceal

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