guise
noun
ˈgīz 
1
: a form or style of dress : costume
attended the masquerade in the guise of a court jester
2
a
obsolete : manner, fashion
b
archaic : a customary way of speaking or behaving
3
a
: external appearance : semblance
The android is a machine in human guise.
b
: pretext
swindles people under the guise of friendship
Synonyms
- act
- airs
- charade
- disguise
- facade
- façade
- front
- masquerade
- playacting
- pose
- pretense
- pretence
- put-on
- semblance
- show
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
he sneaked into the castle to rescue Ivanhoe in the guise of a priest coming to give Ivanhoe his last rites she felt as though she should be wearing some sort of Germanic guise, complete with dirndl, for the fall festival featuring traditional German food and drink
Recent Examples on the Web The intellectual author of that Bolivian power grab under the guise of democracy is former Bolivian Vice President Álvaro García Linera. 
Mary Anastasia O’grady, WSJ, 11 Sep. 2022 In the exclusive clip above, Brooks welcomes the Nadorff family to the home in Wilmington, North Carolina, under the guise of having been selected to film a tour of it for the network before revealing the truth. Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2022 Animal rights activists say the canines were abused under the guise of medical research. Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 25 Aug. 2022 Jacksonville hired Meyer away from the gig under the guise of installing a steady hand atop the organization. Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2022 Tuesday’s announcement echoes a 2021 proposal to restrict abortions under the guise of promoting gender equality. Karina Tsui, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2022 Hence, Nathan decides to expose Adam to Judaism in secret, under the guise of swimming lessons that are really sessions with a Rabbi named Miriam. Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 14 Aug. 2022 The economic reality of the situation was that the Howey Company was raising investment under the guise of selling property. Wired, 10 Aug. 2022 Your mission for Week 1501 will be to come up with fresh observational humor about the irritants in life, in the guise of cheery helpfulness. Pat Myers, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2022 See More
Mary Anastasia O’grady, WSJ, 11 Sep. 2022 In the exclusive clip above, Brooks welcomes the Nadorff family to the home in Wilmington, North Carolina, under the guise of having been selected to film a tour of it for the network before revealing the truth. Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2022 Animal rights activists say the canines were abused under the guise of medical research. Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 25 Aug. 2022 Jacksonville hired Meyer away from the gig under the guise of installing a steady hand atop the organization. Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2022 Tuesday’s announcement echoes a 2021 proposal to restrict abortions under the guise of promoting gender equality. Karina Tsui, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2022 Hence, Nathan decides to expose Adam to Judaism in secret, under the guise of swimming lessons that are really sessions with a Rabbi named Miriam. Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 14 Aug. 2022 The economic reality of the situation was that the Howey Company was raising investment under the guise of selling property. Wired, 10 Aug. 2022 Your mission for Week 1501 will be to come up with fresh observational humor about the irritants in life, in the guise of cheery helpfulness. Pat Myers, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English gise, guise, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wīsa manner — more at wise
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing guise
Kids Definition
guise
noun
ˈgīz
1
: a style of dress
2
: outward appearance The fairy appeared in the guise of an old woman.
Biographical Definition
Guise 1 of 2
biographical name (1)
ˈgēz also ˈgwēz
2nd Duc de 1519–1563 François de Lorraine French soldier and politician
Guise
2 of 2biographical name (2)
3rd Duc de 1550–1588 Henri I de Lorraine French soldier and politician
guises
noun
1
as in facades
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive he allowed himself to dine at fine restaurants all over the world under the guise of research for his book on international cuisine Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- facades
- pretenses
- disguises
- poses
- shows
- masquerades
- pretences
- acts
- personae
- fronts
- airs
- charades
- semblances
- pretexts
- façades
- cloaks
- put-ons
- deceptions
- impersonations
- appearances
- portrayals
- performances
- deceits
- affectations
- guiles
- duplicities
- personas
- glosses
- colors
- excuses
- betrayals
- camouflages
- images
- frauds
- perfidies
- treacheries
- treasons
- dissimulations
- infidelities
- fakeries
- double crosses
- double-dealings
- falsities
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- candors
- sincerities
- naïvetés
- naivetés
- naivetes
2
as in costumes
clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation she felt as though she should be wearing some sort of Germanic guise, complete with dirndl, for the fall festival featuring traditional German food and drink Synonyms & Similar Words
- costumes
- dresses
- clothes
- garbs
- attires
- outfits
- togs
- getups
- styles
- modes
- duds
- habiliments
- raiments
- fashions
- apparels
- drags
- vestments
- arrays
- caparisons
3
as in masks
clothing put on to hide one's true identity or imitate someone or something else he sneaked into the castle to rescue Ivanhoe in the guise of a priest coming to give Ivanhoe his last rites Synonyms & Similar Words
- costumes
- masks
- disguises
- camouflages
- veils
- visors
- dresses
- paints
- rigs
- outfits
- colorings
- vizards
- getups
- cosmetics
- vizors
- dominoes
- costumeries
- dominos
- makeups
4
as in appearances
outward and often deceptive indication hazing rituals may have the guise of harmless fun, but often the reality is serious physical abuse Synonyms & Similar Words
- appearances
- faces
- effects
- names
- impressions
- semblances
- seemings
- outwards
- shows
- pretenses
- resemblances
- implications
- disguises
- representations
- affectations
- fictions
- shapes
- masquerades
- imitations
- cloaks
- masks
- surfaces
- displays
- insinuations
- airs
- suggestions
- impostures
- images
- poses
- facades
- pretences
- hints
- fronts
- demonstrations
- simulations
- likenesses
- exteriors
- glosses
- shells
- make-belief
- façades
- veneers
- make-believe
- patinas
- patinae
- Potemkin villages