guise

noun

ˈgīz How to pronounce guise (audio)
Synonyms of guise
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
c
: a variation on something
the same basic recipe in a different guise

Synonyms of guise

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Examples of guise in a Sentence

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The guise of a youthful flush In those early episodes, Cathy’s makeup had to mirror her hair’s equally nonthreatening appearance, so a fresh, skin-first look was important. — Katie Gunderman, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026 Under his guise of Guy With a Movie Camera, he’s been hired by studios and streamers to help promote their projects with his particular brand of BTS content. — Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026 In street-legal guise, the original Shelby Cobra 427 S/C MKIII comprised a run of only 31 examples in period. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2026 In the novel, likewise, the narrator assumes an almost Homeric guise, comparing current harbor gossip to chatter from the Phoenician, Cretan, Greek, and Roman eras. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for guise

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of guise was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing guise

Rhymes for guise

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Browse Nearby Words

Guiscard
guise
Guise
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Cite this Entry

“Guise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guise. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

guise

noun
ˈgīz How to pronounce guise (audio)
1
: a form or style of dress : costume
in the guise of a shepherd
2
: outer or disguised appearance : semblance
swindled people under the guise of friendship

Biographical Definition

Guise 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

ˈgēz How to pronounce Guise (audio)
also ˈgwēz
2nd Duc de 1519–1563 François de Lorraine French soldier and politician

Guise

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

3rd Duc de 1550–1588 Henri I de Lorraine French soldier and politician
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